UN' 

OALI 


BOOKS   WRITTEN  AND    ILLUSTRATED    BY 

HOWARD    PYLE 

PUBLISHED  BY  CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 


THE   STORY   OF   KING   ARTHUR  AND    HIS 
KNIGHTS. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  CHAMPIONS  OF  THE 
ROUND  TABLE. 

THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  HIS 
COMPANIONS. 

THE    STORY    OF    THE    GRAIL    AND    THE 
PASSING  OF  ARTHUR. 


THE  MERRY  ADVENTURES  OF  ROBIN  HOOD, 
OF  GREAT  RENOWN  IN  NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 

THE  GARDEN  BEHIND  THE  MOON.    A  REAL 

STORY  OF  THE  MOON  ANGEL. 

OTTO  OF  THE  SILVER  HAND. 


\)t  Lab?  Elaine  fbeFa 


CHI 


Sir 

LAUNCELOT 

and  his 


h 

HOWARD  PYLB 


NEW  YORK: 

CKPstLLES  3CRIBtfZ&S 


Copyright,   1907, 
By   CHARLES  SC RIB  NEWS  SONS 


Published,  October,  1907 


Fomootb* 


WITH  this  begins  the  third  of  those  books  which  I  have  set 
myself  to  write  concerning  the  history  of  King  Arthur 
of  Britain  and  of  those  puissant  knights  who  were  of 
his  Court  and  of  his  Round  Table. 

In  the  Book  which  was  written  before  this  book  you  may  there 
read  the  Story  of  that  very  noble  and  worthy  knight,  Sir  Launce- 
lot  of  the  Lake;  of  how  he  dwelt  within  a  magic  lake  which  was 
the  enchanted  habitation  of  the  Lady  Nymue  of  the  Lake;  of  how 
he  was  there  trained  in  all  the  most  excellent  arts  of  chivalry  by 
Sir  Pellias,  the  Gentle  Knight — whilom  a  companion  of  the  Round 
Table,  but  afterward  the  Lord  of  the  Lake;  of  how  he  came  forth 
out  of  the  Lake  and  became  after  that  the  chief est  knight  of  the 
Round  Table  of  King  Arthur.  All  of  this  was  told  in  that  book 
and  many  other  things  concerning  Sir  Launcelot  and  several  other 
worthies  who  were  Companions  of  the  Round  Table  and  who  were 
very  noble  and  excellent  knights  both  in  battle  and  in  court. 

So  here  followeth  a  further  history  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake 

338030 


vi  FOREWORD 

and  the  narrative  of  several  of  the  notable  adventures  that  he  per- 
formed at  this  time  of  his  life. 

Wherefore  if  it  will  please  you  to  read  that  which  is  hereinafter 
set  forth,  you  will  be  told  of  how  Sir  Launcelot  slew  the  great 
Worm  of  Cor  bin;  of  the  madness  that  afterward  fell  upon  him, 
and  of  how  a  most  noble,  gentle,  and  beautiful  lady,  hight  the 
Lady  Elaine  the  Fair,  lent  him  aid  and  siiccor  at  a  time  of  ut- 
most affliction  to  him,  and  so  brought  him  back  to  health  again. 
And  you  may  herein  further  find  it  told  how  Sir  Launcelot  was 
afterward  wedded  to  that  fair  and  gentle  dame,  and  of  how  was 
born  of  that  couple  a  child  of  whom  it  was  prophesied  by  Merlin 
fin  a  certain  miraculous  manner  fully  set  forth  in  this  book} 
that  he  should  become  the  most  perfect  knight  that  ever  lived  and 
he  who  should  bring  back  the  Holy  Grail  to  the  Earth. 

For  that  child  was  Galahad  whom  the  world  knoweth  to  be 
the  flower  of  all  chivalry ;  a  knight  altogether  without  fear  or 
reproach  of  any  kind,  yet,  withal,  the  most  glorious  and  puissant 
knight-champion  who  ever  lived. 

So  if  the  perusal  of  these  things  may  give  you  pleasure,  I  pray 
you  to  read  that  which  followeth,  for  in  this  book  all  these  and 
several  other  histories  are  set  forth  in  full. 


Contents 


PART  I 

THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 
Chapter  First 

How  Denneys  Found  Sir  Launcelot,  and  How  Sir  Launcelot  Rode 
Forth  for  to  Rescue  Queen  Guinevere  From  the  Castle  of  Sir 
Mellegrans,  and  of  What  Befell  Him  Upon  the  Assaying  of  that 
Adventure  7/ 


Chapter  Second 


How  Sir  Launcelot  Rode  in  a  Cart  to  Rescue  Queen 
and  How    He    Came  in  that  Way   to  the  Castle  of  Str  Melle- 
grans        ......        •         •         •         •         • 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  Third 

Haw  King  Arthur  Proclaimed  a  Tournament  at  Astolat,  and 
How  King  Pelles  of  Corbin  Went  With  His  Court  Thither  to 
that  Place.  Also  How  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  had 
Encounter  with  two  Knights  in  the  Highway  Thitherward  125 


Chapter  Fourth 

How  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  Fought  in  the  Tournament 
at  Astolat.  How  Sir  Launcelot  was  Wounded  in  that  Affair,  and 
How  Sir  Lavaine  Brought  Him  Unto  a  Place  of  Safety  .  13 7 


Chapter  Fifth 

How  Sir  Launcelot  Escaped  Wounded  into  the  Forest,  and  How 
Sir  Gawaine  Discovered  to  the  Court  of  King  Pelles  who  was  le 
Chevalier  Malfait  ........ 


Chapter  Sixth 

How  the  Lady  Elaine  Went  to  Seek  Sir  Launcelot  and  How  Sir 
Launcelot  Afterwards  Returned  to  the  Court  of  King  Arthur  159 


CONTENTS  ^ 

PART  IV 

THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 
Chapter  First 

How  Sir  Launcelot  Became  a  Madman  of  the  Forest  and  How 
He   Was  Brought  to  the  Castle  of  Sir  Blyant   .../// 


Chapter  Second 

How  Sir  Launcelot  Saved  the  Life  of  Sir  Blyant.  How  He 
Escaped  From  the  Castle  of  Sir  Blyant,  and  How  He  Slew  the 
Great  Wild  Boar  of  Lystenesse  and  Saved  the  Life  of  King 
Arthur,  His  Liege  Lord /<?/ 


Chapter  Third 

How  Sir  Launcelot  Returned  to  Corbin  Again  and  How  the 
Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  Cherished  Him  and  Brought  Him  Back 
'o  Health.  Also  How  Sir  Launcelot  with  the  Lady  Elaine  With- 
irew  to  Joyous  Isle v  • 


xii  CONTENTS 


PART  V 

THE  STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  THE  LADY 
OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 


Chapter  First 

How  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival  Departed  Together  in  Quest 
of  Sir  Launcelot,  and  How  They  Met  Sir  Sagramore,  Who  Had 
Failed  in  a  Certain  Adventure.  Also  How  Sir  Sagramore  Told 
His  Story  Concerning  That  Adventure  ....  201 


Chapter  Second 


How   Sir    Ewaine    Undertook    That   Adventure   in   Which    Sir 
Sagramore    Had   Failed,    and    How    it    Sped    with    Him    There- 
€        ,         .      /?.         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         21 -3 


Chapter  Third 

How  a  Damsel,  Hight  Elose,  Who  Was  in  Service  With  the 
Lady  Lesolie  of  the  Fountain,  Brought  Succor  to  Sir  Ewaine 
in  His  Captivity .  .  .  223 


Chapter  Fourth 

How  Sir  Ewaine  Retiirned  to  the  Court  of  King  Arthur, 
and  How  he  Forgot  the  Lady  Lesolie  and  His  Duty  to  the 
Fountain  .  .  .  ...  .  .  .  .  .  237 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  Fifth 

How  Sir  Ewaine  was  Succored  and  Brought  Back  to  Life  by 
a  Certain  Noble  Lady,  How  He  Brought  Aid  to  that  Lady  in  a 
Time  of  Great  Trouble,  and  How  He  Returned  Once  Again  to 
the  Lady  Lesolie  of  the  Fountain  .....  249 


PART  VI 

THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 
Chapter  First 

How  Sir  Perdval  Met  His  Brother,  and  How  They  Two  Journeyed 
to  the  Priory  where  their  Mother  Dwelt  and  What  Befell  Them 
Thereafter • 


Chapter  Second 

How   Sir  Perdval  and  Sir   Ector   de   Marts  Came  to  a  Very 
Wonderful  Place  Where  was  a  Castle  in  the  Midst  of  a  Lake 


Chapter  Third 

How  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir   Percival  and 
Lady  Elaine  Processed  to  the  Court 
a   Very  Good  Adventure  Befell  Them 


XIV 


CONTENTS 


PART  VII 

THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 


Chapter  First 

How  Sir  Bors  de  Gam's  and  Sir  Gawaine  Went  Forth  in 
Search  of  Sir  Launcelot.  How  They  Parted  Company,  and  What 
Befell  Sir  Gawaine  Thereafter  .  .  .  .  .  .  jn 


Chapter  Second 

How  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  Came  to  a  Priory  in  the  For 
est,  and  How  Galahad  Was  Born  at   That  Place.         .         . 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


The  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair     . 

Head  Piece — Table  of  Contents 

Tail  Piece— Table  of  Contents 

Head  Piece — List  of  Illustrations 

Tail  Piece — List  of  Illustrations     . 

Sir  Mellegrans  interrupts  the  sport  of  the  Queen 

Head  Piece — Prologue 

Tail  Piece — Prologue 


,      Frontispiece 


FACE 

mi 

xiv 

xv 

xvni 

2 


3 

8 


xvi  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Denneys  and  the  Hermit  help  Sir  Launcelot  to  his  Armor  10 

Head  Piece       .         .         .               *  .         .         .         .                  .  // 

How  Sir  Launcelot  rode  errant  in  a  cart     .         .         .         .  18 

The  Damsel  Elouise  the  Fair  rescues  Sir  Launcelot      .         ,  28 

Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney     .         .         ,         .         .         .         *         .  38 

Head  Piece       .         ,         . jp 

The  Damsel  Lynette        .         *         .         .         .         .         .         I  '  48 

Sir  Gareth  doeth  Battle  with  the  Knight  of  the  River  Ford  62 

The  Lady  Layonnesse       .         .         .         »         .         .         .         .  76 

The  Lady  Layonnesse  cometh  to  the  Pavilion  of  Sir  Gareth  90 

Tail  Piece         .         .         .         .         .         f         .         .         .         .  104 

How  Sir  Launcelot  held  discourse  with  ye  Merry  Minstrels  106 

Head  Piece       .         .         .         .         ...         .         .         .  107 

Sir  Launcelot  slayeth  the   Worm  of  Cor  bin  .         .         .         ,  116 

Sir  Launcelot  confideth  his  Shield  to  Elaine  the  Fair           .  124. 

Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  overlook  the  Field  of  Astolat  ij6 

Sir  Gawaine  knoweth  the  shield  of  Sir  Launcelot          .         .  146 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Sir  Launcelot  leapeth  from  the  window          .  f~g 

Tail  Piece  \  l68 

The  Madman  of  the  Forest  who  was  Sir  Launcelot      .         .  770 

Head  Piece       •••,......  777 

The  Forest  Madman  saveth  ye  Life  of  King  Arthur  .  180 

Tail  Piece        . 188 

The  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  knoweth  Sir  Launcelot        .         .  190 

Sir  Gawaine,  Knight  of  the  Fountain  ....  200 

Head  Piece 201 

Sir  Ewaine  poureth  water  on  the  slab  ....  212 

The  Damsel  Elose  giveth  a  ring  to  Sir  Ewaine  222 

The  Lady  of  the  Fountain 23& 

A  Damsel  bringeth  aid  unto  Sir  Ewaine       .         .         .  248 

Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  receive  their  Mothers  Blessing  262 

Head  Piece       ....  2(>3 
Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  look  upon  the  Isle  of  Joy  . 

Sir  Lavaine  the  Son  of  Pelles 


XVlll 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Merlin  Prophesieth  from  a  Cloud  of  Mist 
Head  Piece       ....-• 
Tail  Piece         .         .         . 
Sir  Bors  de   Gam's,  the  good  .       .. . 

The  Barge  of  the  Dead 


PAGE 
310 


322 

324 
334 


it  Fletlegrana  interrupts 
sport  of  flje  Queen. 


•', 


Prologue. 


IT  befel  upon  a  very  joyous  season  in  the  month  of  May  that  Queen 
Guinevere  was  of  a  mind  to  take  gentle  sport  as  folk  do  at  that  time 
of  the  year ;  wherefore  on  a  day  she  ordained  it  in  a  court  of  pleasure 
that  on  the  next  morning  certain  knights  and  ladies  of  the  court  at  Cam- 
elot  should  ride  with  her  a-maying  into  the  woods  and  fields,  there  to 
disport  themselves  amid  the  flowers  and  blossoms  that  grew  in  great  mul- 
titudes beside  the  river. 

Of  this  May-party  it  stands  recorded  several  times  in  the  various  histories 
of  chivalry  that  the  knights  she  chose  were  ten  in  all  and  that  they  were  all 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  to  wit,  as  followeth:  there  was  Sir  Kay  the 
Seneschal,  and  Sir  Agravaine,  and  Sir  Brandiles,  and  Sir  Sagramour  the 
Desirous,  and  Sir  Dodinas,  and  Sir  Osanna,  and  Sir  Ladynas  How  the  j^y 
of  the  Forest  Sauvage,  and  Sir  Persavant  of  India,  and  Sir  Guinevere  rode 
Ironside  and  Sir  Percydes,  who  was  cousin  to  Sir  Percival 
of  Gales.  These  were  the  ten  (so  sayeth  those  histories  aforesaid)  whom 
the  Lady  Guinevere  called  upon  for  to  ride  a-maying  with  her  all  bright 
and  early  upon  the  morning  of  the  day  as  aforesaid. 

And  the  Queen  further  ordained  that  each  of  these  knights  should  choose 
him  a  lady  for  the  day.  And  she  ordained  that  each  lady  should  ride  be- 
hind the  knight  upon  the  horse  which  he  rode.  And  she  ordained  that 
all  those  knights  and  ladies  and  all  such  attendants  as  might  be  of  that 
party  should  be  clad  entirely  in  green,  as  was  fitting  for  that  pleasant 
festival. 

Such  were  the  commands  that  the  Queen  ordained,  and  when  those 


PROLOGUE 


who  were  chosen  were  acquainted  with  their  good  fortune  they  took  great  joy 
therein ;  for  all  they  wist  there  would  be  great  sport  at  that  maying-party. 

So  when  the  next  morning  was  come  they  all  rode  forth  in  the  freshness 
of  dewy  spring-tide;  what  time  the  birds  were  singing  so  joyously,  so 
joyously,  from  every  hedge  and  coppice;  what  time  the  soft  wind  was 
blowing  great  white  clouds,  slow  sailing  across  the  canopy  of  heaven,  each 
cloud  casting  a  soft  and  darkling  shadow  that  moved  across  the  hills  and 
uplands  as  it  swam  the  light  blue  heaven  above;  what  time  all  the  trees 
and  hedgerows  were  abloom  with  fragrant  and  dewy  blossoms,  and  fields  and 
meadow-lands,  all  shining  bright  with  dew,  were  spread  over  with  a  wonderful 
carpet  of  pretty  flowers,  gladdening  the  eye  with  their  charm  and  making 
fragrant  the  breeze  that  blew  across  the  smooth  and  grassy  plain. 

For  in  those  days  the  world  was  young  and  gay  (as  it  is  nowadays  with 
little  children  who  are  abroad  when  the  sun  shines  bright  and  things  are 
a-growing)  and  the  people  who  dwelt  therein  had  not  yet  grown  aweary 
of  its  freshness  of  delight.  Wherefore  that  fair  Queen  and  her  court  took 
great  pleasure  in  all  the  merry  world  that  lay  spread  about  them,  as  they 
rode  two  by  two,  each  knight  with  his  lady,  gathering  the  blossoms  of  the 
May,  chattering  the  while  like  merry  birds  and  now  and  then  bursting  into 
song  because  of  the  pure  pleasure  of  living. 

So  they  disported  themselves  among  the  blossoms  for  all  that  morning, 
and  when  noontide  had  come  they  took  their  rest  at  a  fair  spot  in  a  flowery 
meadow  that  lay  spread  out  beside  the  smooth-flowing  river  about  three 
miles  from  the  town.  For  from  where  they  sat  they  might  look  down 
across  the  glassy  stream  and  behold  the  distant  roofs  and  spires  of  Camelot, 
trembling  in  the  thin  warm  air,  very  bright  and  clear,  against  the  blue  and 
radiant  sky  beyond.  And  after  they  were  all  thus  seated  in  the  grass, 
sundry  attendants  came  and  spread  out  a  fair  white  table-cloth  and  laid 

They  feast      upon  the  cloth  a  goodly  feast  for  their  refreshment — cold  pasties 

very  joyously.  of  venison,  roasted  fowls,  manchets  of  white  bread,  and  flagons 
of  golden  wine  and  ruby  wine.  And  all  they  took  great  pleasure  when 
they  gazed  upon  that  feast,  for  they  were  an-hungered  with  their  sporting. 
So  they  ate  and  drank  and  made  them  merry ;  and  whilst  they  ate  certain 
minstrels  sang  songs,  and  certain  others  recited  goodly  contes  and  tales  for 
their  entertainment.  And  meanwhile  each  fair  lady  wove  wreaths  of  herbs 
and  flowers  and  therewith  bedecked  her  knight,  until  all  those  noble  gen- 
tlemen were  entirely  bedight  with  blossoms — whereat  was  much  merriment 
and  pleasant  jesting. 

Thus  it  was  that  Queen  Guinevere  went  a-maying,  and  so  have  I  told  you 
all  about  it  so  that  you  might  know  how  it  was. 


PROLOGUE 

Now  whilst  the  Queen  and  her  party  were  thus  sporting  together  like  to 
children  in  the  grass,  there  suddenly  came  the  sound  of  a  bugle-horn  winded 
in  the  woodlands  that  there  were  not  a  very  great  distance  away 
from  where  they  sat,  and  whilst  they  looked  with  some  surprise 
to  see  who  blew  that  horn  in  the  forest,  there  suddenly  ap-  'from  *hs 
peared  at  the  edge  of  the  woodland  an  armed  knight  clad  cap-  forest' 
a-pie.  And  the  bright  sunlight  smote  down  upon  that  armed  knight  so 
that  he  shone  with  wonderful  brightness  at  the  edge  of  the  shadows  of  the 
trees.  And  after  that  knight  there  presently  followed  an  array  of  men- 
at-arms — fourscore  and  more  in  all — and  these  also  were  clad  at  all  points 
in  armor  as  though  prepared  for  battle. 

This  knight  and  those  who  were  with  him  stopped  for  a  little  while  at  the 
edge  of  the  wood  and  stood  regarding  that  May-party  from  a  distance;  then 
after  a  little  they  rode  forward  across  the  meadow  to  where  the  Queen  and 
her  court  sat  looking  at  them. 

Now  at  first  Queen  Guinevere  and  those  that  were  with  her  wist  not  who 
that  knight  could  be,  but  when  he  and  his  armed  men  had  come  nigh  enough, 
they  were  aware  that  he  was  a  knight  hight  Sir  Mellegrans,  who  was  the 
son  of  King  Bagdemagus,  and  they  wist  that  his  visit  was  not  likely  to 
bode  any  very  great  good  to  them. 

For  Sir  Mellegrans  was  not  like  his  father,  who  (as  hath  been  already 
told  of  both  in  the  Book  of  King  Arthur  and  in  The  Story  of  the  Champions 
of  the  Round  Table)  was  a  good  and  worthy  king,  and  a  friend  of  King 
Arthur's.  For,  contrariwise,  Sir  Mellegrans  was  malcontented  and  held 
bitter  enmity  toward  King  Arthur,  and  that  for  this  reason : 

A  part  of  the  estate  of  Sir  Mellegrans  marched  upon  the  borders  of  Wales, 
and  there  had  at  one  time  arisen  great  contention  between  Sir  Mellegrans 
and  the  King  of  North  Wales  concerning  a  certain  strip  of  forest  land,  as  to 
the  ownership  thereof.  This  contention  had  been  submitted  to  King  Arthur 
and  he  had  decided  against  Sir  Mellegrans  and  in  favor  of  the  King  of 
North  Wales;  wherefore  from  that  time  Sir  Mellegrans  had  great  hatred 
toward  King  Arthur  and  sware  that  some  time  he  would  be  revenged  upon 
him  if  the  opportunity  should  offer.  Wherefore  it  was  that  when  the  Lady 
Guinevere  beheld  that  it  was  Sir  Mellegrans  who  appeared  before  her  thus 
armed  in  full,  she  was  ill  at  ease,  and  wist  that  that  visit  maybe  boded  no 
good  to  herself  and  to  her  gentle  May-court. 

So  Sir  Mellegrans  and  his  armed  party  rode  up  pretty  close   S***g»" 
to  where  the  Queen  and  her  party  sat  in  the  grass.     And  when   May.party, 
he  had  come  very  near  he  drew  rein  to  his  horse  and  sat 
regarding  that  gay  company  both  bitterly  and  scornfully  (albeit  at  the 


6  PROLOGUE 

moment  he  knew  not  the  Queen  who  she  was).  Then  after  a  little  he  said; 
''What  party  of  jesters  are  ye,  and  what  is  this  foolish  sport  ye  are  at?" 

Then  Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal  spake  up  very  sternly  and  said:  "  Sir  Knight, 
it  behooves  you  to  be  more  civil  in  your  address.  Do  you  not  perceive  that 
this  is  the  Queen  and  her  court  before  whom  you  stand  and  unto  whom 
you  are  speaking?" 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  knew  the  Queen  and  was  filled  with  great  triumph 
to  find  her  thus,  surrounded  only  with  a  court  of  knights  altogether  un- 
armed. Wherefore  he  cried  out  in  a  great  voice:  "Hah!  lady,  now  I  do 
know  thee!  Is  it  thus  that  I  find  thee  and  thy  court?  Now  it  appears  to 
me  that  Heaven  hath  surely  delivered  you  into  my  hands!" 

To  this  Sir  Percydes  replied,  speaking  very  fiercely:  "What  mean  you, 
Sir  Knight,  by  those  words  ?  Do  you  dare  to  make  threats  to  your  Queen  ? " 

Quoth  Sir  Mellegrans :  "  I  make  no  threats,  but  I  tell  you  this,  I  do  not 
mean  to  throw  aside  the  good  fortune  that  hath  thus  been  placed  in  my 
hands.  For  here  I  find  you  all  undefended  and  in  my  power,  wherefore  I 
forthwith  seize  upon  you  for  to  take  you  to  my  castle  and  hold  you  there  as 
hostages  until  such  time  as  King  Arthur  shall  make  right  the  great  wrong 
which  he  hath  done  me  aforetime  and  shall  return  to  me  those  forest  lands 
which  he  hath  taken  from  me  to  give  unto  another.  So  if  you  go  with  me 
in  peace,  it  shall  be  well  for  you,  but  if  you  go  not  in  peace  it  shall  be  ill  for 
you." 

Then  all  the  ladies  that  were  of  the  Queen's  court  were  seized  with  great 
terror,  for  Sir  Mellegrans 's  tones  and  the  aspect  of  his  face  were  very  fierce 
and  baleful ;  but  Queen  Guinevere,  albeit  her  face  was  like  to  wax  for  white- 
ness, spake  with  a  great  deal  of  courage  and  much  anger,  saying:  "Wilt 
thou  be  a  traitor  to  thy  King,  Sir  Knight?  Wilt  thou  dare  to  do  violence 
to  me  and  my  court  within  the  very  sight  of  the  roofs  of  King  Arthur's 
town?" 

"  Lady,"  said  Sir  Mellegrans,  "  thou  hast  said  what  I  will  to  do." 

At  this  Sir  Percydes  drew  his  sword  and  said :  "  Sir  Knight,  this  shall  not 
be !  Thou  shalt  not  have  thy  will  in  this  while  I  have  any  life  in  my  body ! " 

Then  all  those  other  gentlemen  drew  their  swords  also,  and  one  and  all 
-pake  to  the  same  purpose,  saying:  ''Sir  Percydes  hath  spoken;  sooner 
would  we  die  than  suffer  that  affront  to  the  Queen." 

"  Well,"  said  Sir  Mellegrans,  speaking  very  bitterly,  "  if  ye  will  it  that  ye 
who  are  naked  shall  do  battle  with  us  who  are  armed,  then  let  it  be  even  as 
ye  elect.  So  keep  this  lady  from  me  if  ye  are  able,  for  I  will  herewith  seize 
upon  you  all,  maugre  anything  that  you  may  do  to  stay  me." 

Then  those  ten  unarmed  knights  of  the  Queen  and  their  attendants  made 


PROLOGUE  7 

them  ready  for  battle.  And  when  Sir  Mellegrans  beheld  what  was  their 
will,  he  gave  command  that  his  men  should  make  them  ready  for  battle 
upon  their  part,  and  they  did  so. 

Then  in  a  moment  all  that  pleasant  May-party  was  changed  to 
dreadful  and  bloody  uproar ;  for  men  lashed  fiercely  at  men  with  sword  and 
glaive,  and  the  Queen  and  her  ladies  shrieked  and  clung  in  terror  together 
in  the  midst  of  that  party  of  knights  who  were  fighting  for  them. 

And  for  a  long  time  those  ten  unarmed  worthies  fought  against  the  armed 
men  as  one  to  ten,  and  for  a  long  time  no  one  could  tell  how  that  battle 
would  end.  For  the  ten  men  smote  the  others  down  from  their 
horses  upon  all  sides,  wherefore,  for  a  while,  it  looked  as  though 
the  victory  should  be  with  them.  But  they  could  not  shield  °1 sir  Mette~ 
themselves  from  the  blows  of  their  enemies,  being  unarmed,  ' 
wherefore  they  were  soon  wounded  in  many  places,  and  what  with  loss  of 
blood  and  what  with  stress  of  fighting  a  few  against  many  without  any 
rest,  they  presently  began  to  wax  weak  and  faint.  Then  at  last  Sir  Kay  fell 
down  to  the  earth  and  then  Sir  Sagramour  and  then  Sir  Agravaine  and  Sir 
Dodinas  and  then  Sir  Ladynas  and  Sir  Osanna  and  Sir  Persavant,  so  that 
all  who  were  left  standing  upon  their  feet  were  Sir  Brandiles  and  Sir  Ironside 
and  Sir  Percydes. 

But  still  these  three  set  themselves  back  to  back  and  thus  fought  on  in 
that  woful  battle.  And  still  they  lashed  about  them  so  fiercely  with  their 
swords  that  the  terror  of  this  battle  filled  their  enemies  with  fear,  insomuch 
that  those  who  were  near  them  fell  back  after  a  while  to  escape  the  dreadful 
strokes  they  gave. 

So  came  a  pause  in  the  battle  and  all  stood  at  rest.  Meantime  all  around 
on  the  ground  were  men  groaning  dolorously,  for  in  that  battle  those  ten 
unarmed  knights  of  the  Round  Table  had  smitten  down  thirty  of  their 

enemies.  A 

So  for  a  while  those  three  stood  back  to  back  resting  from  their  battle  and 
panting  for  breath.     As  for  their  gay  attire  of  green,  lo!  it  was  all  ensan- 
guined with  the  red  that  streamed  from  many  sore  and  grimly  wounds 
And  as  for  those  gay  blossoms  that  had  bedecked  them,  lo!  they  were  aL 
gone,  and  instead  there  hung  about  them  the  dread  and  terror  c 

3aThen  when  Queen  Guinevere  beheld  her  knights  how  they  stood  bleeding 
from  many  wounds  and  panting  for  breath,  her  heart  was  filled  with  pity 
and  she  cried  out  in  a  great  shrill  voice:  "Sir  Mellegrans,  nave  pity! 
not  my  noble  knights!  but  spare  them  and  I  will  go  with     ^e  as  tn 
wouldst  have  me  do.     Only  this  covenant  I  make  with  thee.  suffer  the 


8  PROLOGUE 

lords  and  ladies  of  my  court  and  all  of  those  attendant  upon  us,  to  go  with 
me  into  captivity." 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  said :  "  Well,  lady,  it  shall  be  as  you  wish,  for  these 
men  of  yours  fight  not  like  men  but  like  devils,  wherefore  I  am  glad  to  end 
this  battle  for  the  sake  of  all.  So  bid  your  knights  put  away  their  swords, 
and  I  will  do  likewise  with  my  men,  and  so  there  shall  be  peace  between  us. 

Then,  in  obedience  to  the  request  of  Sir  Mellegrans,  the  Lady  Guinevere 
gave  command  that  those  three  knights  should  put  away  their  swords,  and 
The  Queen  though  they  all  three  besought  her  that  she  should  suffer  them 
putteth  an  end  to  fight  still  a  little  longer  for  her,  she  would  not ;  so  they  were 
obliged  to  sheath  their  swords  as  she  ordered.  After  that  these 
three  knights  went  to  their  fallen  companions,  and  found  that  they  were 
all  alive,  though  sorely  hurt.  And  they  searched  their  wounds  as  they  lay 
upon  the  ground,  and  they  dressed  them  in  such  ways  as  might  be.  After 
that  they  helped  lift  the  wounded  knights  up  to  their  horses,  supporting 
them  there  in  such  wise  that  they  should  not  fall  because  of  faintness  from 
their  wounds.  So  they  all  departed,  a  doleful  company,  from  that  place, 
which  was  now  no  longer  a  meadow  of  pleasure,  but  a  field  of  bloody  battle 
and  of  death. 

Thus  beginneth  this  history. 

And  now  you  shall  hear  that  part  of  this  story  which  is  called  in  many 
books  of  chivalry,  "The  Story  of  the  Knight  of  the  Cart." 

For  the  further  history  hath  now  to  do  with  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake, 
and  of  how  he  came  to  achieve  the  rescue  of  Queen  Guinevere,  brought 
thither  in  a  cart. 


PART   I 
The   Chevalier  of  the  Cart 


1LJERE  followeth   the  story  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake,  how  he  went 
forth  to  rescue  Queen  Guinevere  from  that  peril  in  which  she  lay  at 
the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans.     Likewise  it  is  told  how  he  met  with  a  very  un- 
toward adventure,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  ride  to  his  undertaking  in  a  cart  as 
aforesaid. 


enney*  anb  flje  Hermit  Ijetp 
Sir  Launcclot  tofyte  armor* 


Chapter  First 


How  Denneys  Found  Sir  Launcelot,  and  How  Sir  Launcelot  Rode 
Forth  for  to  Rescue  Queen  Guinevere  from  the  Castle  of  Sir 
Mellegrans,  and  of  What  Befel  him  upon  the  Assaying  of  that 
Adventure. 

NOW  after  that  sad  and  sorrowful  company  of  the  Queen  had  thus 
been  led  away  captive  by  Sir  Mellegrans  as  aforetold  of,  they  rode 
forward  upon  their  way  for  all  that  day.    And  they  continued  to 
ride  after  the  night  had  fallen,  and  at  that  time  they  were  passing  through 
a  deep  dark  forest.     From  this  forest,  about  midnight,  they  came  out  into 
an  open  stony  place  whence  before  them  they  beheld  where  was  built  high 
up  upon  a  steep  hill  a  grim  and  forbidding  castle,  standing  very  dark  against 
the  star-lit  sky.     And  behind  the  castle  there  was  a  town  with  a  number 
of  lights  and  a  bell  was  tolling  for  midnight  in  the  town.    And  this  town 
and  castle  were  the  town  and  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans. 

Now  the  Queen  had  riding  near  to  her  throughout  that  doleful  journey 
a  young  page  named  Denneys,  and  as  they  had  ridden  upon  their  way,  she 
had  taken  occasion  at  one  place  to  whisper  to  him:  "  Denneys,  if  thou  canst 
find  a  chance  of  escape,  do  so,  and  take  news  of  our  plight  to  some  one  who 
may  rescue  us."     So  it  befel  that  just  as  they  came  out  thus   How  Den. 
into  that  stony  place,  and  in  the  confusion  that  arose  when   ***« 
they  reached  the  steep  road  that  led  up  to  the  castle,  Denneys  drew  rein  a 


12  THE  CHEVALIER  OF   THE  CART 

little  to  one  side.  Then,  seeing  that  he  was  unobserved,  he  suddenly  set 
spurs  to  his  horse  and  rode  away  with  might  and  main  down  the  stony  path 
and  into  the  forest  whence  they  had  all  come,  and  so  was  gone  before  any- 
body had  gathered  thought  to  stay  him. 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  was  very  angry,  and  he  rode  up  to  the  Queen  and  he 
said  :  "  Lady,  thou  hast  sought  to  betray  me  !  But  it  matters  not,  for  thy 
page  shall  not  escape  from  these  parts  with  his  life,  for  I  shall  send  a  party 
after  him  with  command  to  slay  him  with  arrows/' 

So  Sir  Mellegrans  did  as  he  said  ;  he  sent  several  parties  of  armed  men  to 
hunt  the  forest  for  the  page  Denneys  ;  but  Denneys  escaped  them  all  and 
got  safe  away  into  the  cover  of  the  night. 

And  after  that  he  wandered  through  the  dark  and  gloomy  woodland, 
not  knowing  whither  he  went,  for  there  was  no  ray  of  light.  Moreover, 
the  gloom  was  full  of  strange  terrors,  for  on  every  side  of  him  he  heard  the 
movement  of  night  creatures  stirring  in  the  darkness,  and  he  wist  not 
whether  they  were  great  or  little  or  whether  they  were  of  a  sort  to  harm 
him  or  not  to  harm  him. 

Yet  ever  he  went  onward  until,  at  last,  the  dawn  of  the  day  came  shining 
very  faint  and  dim  through  the  tops  of  the  trees.  And  then,  by  and  by, 
and  after  a  little,  he  began  to  see  the  things  about  him,  very  faint,  as 
though  they  were  ghosts  growing  out  of  the  darkness.  Then 
the  small  fowl  awoke,  and  first  one  began  to  chirp  and  then 


through  the  another,  until  a  multitude  of  the  little  feathered  creatures  fell 
to  singing  upon  all  sides  so  that  the  silence  of  the  forest  was 
filled  Jiull  of  their  multitudinous  chanting.  And  all  the  while  the  light 
grew^tronger  and  stronger  and  more  clear  and  sharp  until,  by  and  by,  the 
great  and  splendid  sun  leaped  up  into  the  sky  and  shot  his  shafts  of  gold 
aslant  through  the  trembling  leaves  of  the  trees  ;  and  so  all  the  joyous  world 
was  awake  once  more  to  the  fresh  and  dewy  miracle  of  a  new-born  day. 

So  cometh  the  breaking  of  the  day  in  the  woodlands  as  I  have  told  you, 
and  all  this  Denneys  saw,  albeit  he  thought  but  little  of  what  he  beheld. 
For  all  he  cared  for  at  that  time  was  to  escape  out  of  the  thick  mazes  of  the 
forest  in  which  he  knew  himself  to  be  entangled.  Moreover,  he  was  faint 
with  weariness  and  hunger,  and  wist  not  where  he  might  break  his  fast  or 
where  he  could  find  a  place  to  tarry  and  to  repose  himself  for  a  little. 

But  God  had  care  of  little  Denneys  and  found  him  food,  for  by  and  by 
he  came  to  an  open  space  in  the  forest,  where  there  was  a  neatherd's  hut, 
and  that  was  a  very  pleasant  place.  For  here  a  brook  as  clear  as  crystal 
came  brawling  out  of  the  forest  and  ran  smoothly  across  an  open  lawn  of 
bright  green  grass  ;  and  there  was  a  hedgerow  and  several  apple-trees,  and 


HOW  DENNEYS  JOURNEYS  IN  THE  FOREST 

both  the  hedge  and  the  apple-trees  were  abloom  with  fragrant  blossoms 
And  the  thatched  hut  of  the  neatherd  stood  back  under  two  great  oak-trees 
at  the  edge  of  the  forest,  where  the  sunlight  played  in  spots  of  gold  all  over 
the  face  of  the  dwelling. 

So  the  Queen's  page  beheld  the  hut  and  he  rode  forward  with  intent  to 
beg  for  bread,  and  at  his  coming  there  appeared  a  comely  woman  of  the 
forest  at  the  door  and  asked  him  what  he  would  have.  To  her  Denneys 
told  how  he  was  lost  in  the  forest  and  how  he  was  anhungered.  And  whilst 
he  talked  there  came  a  slim  brown  girl,  also  of  the  woodland,  and  very  wild, 
and  she  stood  behind  the  woman  and  listened  to  what  he  said.  This  woman 
and  this  girl  pitied  Denneys,  and  the  woman  gave  command 
that  the  girl  should  give  him  a  draught  of  fresh  milk,  and  the 
maiden  did  so,  bringing  it  to  him  in  a  great  wooden  bowl.  foodt 
Meanwhile,  the  woman  herself  fetched  sweet  brown  bread  spread  with  butter 
as  yellow  as  gold,  and  Denneys  took  it  and  gave  them  both  thanks  beyond 
measure.  So  he  ate  and  drank  with  great  appetite,  the  whiles  those  two 
outland  folk  stood  gazing  at  him,  wondering  at  his  fair  young  face  and  his 
yellow  hair. 

After  that,  Denneys  journeyed  on  for  the  entire  day,  until  the  light  began 
to  wane  once  more.  The  sun  set;  the  day  faded  into  the  silence  of  the 
gloaming  and  then  the  gloaming  darkened,  deeper  and  more  deep,  until 
Denneys  was  engulfed  once  more  in  the  blackness  of  the  night-time.  . 

Then  lo!  God  succored  him  again,  for  as  the  darkness  fell,  he  heard^he 
sound  of  a  little  bell  ringing  through  the  gathering  night.  Thitherward  he 
turned  his  horse  whence  he  heard  the  sound  to  come,  and  so  in  a  little  he 
perceived  a  light  shining  from  afar,  and  when  he  had  come  nigh  enough  to 
that  light  he  was  aware  that  he  had  come  to  the  chapel  of  a  hermit  of  the 
forest  and  that  the  light  that  he  beheld  came  from  within  the  hermit's 
dwelling-place. 

As  Denneys  drew  nigh  to  the  chapel  and  the  hut  a  great  horse  neighed  from 
a  cabin  close  by,  and  therewith  he  was  aware  that  some  other  wayfarer  was 
there,  and  that  he  should  have  comradeship—  and  at  that  his  heart  was 
elated  with  gladness. 

So  he  rode  up  to  the  door  of  the  hut  and  knocked,  and  in  answer  t 
knocking  there  came  one  and  opened  to  him,  and  that  one  was   Denneys 
a  most  reverend  hermit  with.  a  long  beard  as  white  as  snow  <*•»<*  * 
and  a  face  very  calm  and  gentle  and  covered  all  over  with  a 


great  multitude  of  wrinkles.  f       . 

(And  this  was  the  hermit  of  the  forest  several  times  spoken  of  af( 

in  these  histories.) 


i4  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 

When  the  hermit  beheld  before  him  that  young  lad,  all  haggard  and  worn  and 
faint  and  sick  with  weariness  and  travel  and  hunger,  he  took  great  pity  and  ran 
to  him  and  catched  him  in  his  arms  and  lifted  him  down  from  his  horse  and 
bare  him  into  the  hermitage,  and  sat  him  down  upon  a  bench  that  was  there. 

Denneys  said:  "  Give  me  to  eat  and  to  drink,  for  I  am  faint  to  death." 
And  the  hermit  said,  "You  shall  have  food  upon  the  moment,'*  and  he 
went  to  fetch  it. 

Then  Denneys  gazed  about  him  with  heavy  eyes,  and  was  aware  that 
there  was  another  in  the  hut  besides  himself.  And  then  he  heard  a  voice 
speak  his  name  with  great  wonderment,  saying:  "  Denneys,  is  it  then  thou 
who  hast  come  here  at  this  time?  What  ails  thee?  Lo!  I  knew  thee  not 
when  I  first  beheld  thee  enter." 

Then  Denneys  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  he  beheld  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake  who  spoke  to  him  thus  in  the  hut  of  the  hermit. 

At  that,  and  seeing  who  it  was  who  spake  to  him,  Denneys  leaped  up  and 
Denneys  findeth  ran  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  fell  down  upon  his  knees  before  him. 
Sir  Launcelot.  j^fr  fre  embraced  Sir  Launcelot  about  the  knees,  weeping  be- 
yond measure  because  of  the  many  troubles  through  which  he  had  passed. 

Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  Denneys,  what  is  it  ails  thee?  Where  is  the  Queen, 
and  how  came  you  here  at  this  place  and  at  this  hour?  Why  look  you  so 
distraught,  and  why  are  you  so  stained  with  blood?" 

Then  Denneys,  still  weeping,  told  Sir  Launcelot  all  that  had  befallen,  and 
how  that  the  Lady  Guinevere  was  prisoner  in  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans 
somewhere  in  the  midst  of  that  forest. 

But  when  Sir  Launcelot  heard  what  Denneys  said,  he  arose  very  hastily 

and  he  cried  out,  "  How  is  this !    How  is  this ! "  and  he  cried  out  again  very 

vehemently:  "  Help  me  to  mine  armor  and  let  me  go  hence! " 

rides  forth  to       (f°r  Sir  Launcelot  had  laid  aside  his  armor  whilst  he  rested  in 

save  the  the  hut  of  the  hermit) . 

At  that  moment  the  hermit  came  in,  bringing  food  for  Den- 
neys to  eat,  and  hearing  what  Sir  Launcelot  said,  he  would  have  persuaded 
him  to  abide  there  until  the  morrow  and  until  he  could  see  his  way.  But 
Sir  Launcelot  would  listen  to  nothing  that  might  stay  him.  So  Denneys 
and  the  hermit  helped  him  don  his  armor,  and  after  that  Sir  Launcelot 
mounted  his  warhorse  and  rode  away  into  the  blackness  of  the  night. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  as  best  he  might  through  the  darkness  of  the  forest, 
and  he  rode  all  night,  and  shortly  after  the  dawning  of  the  day  he  heard  the 
sound  of  rushing  water. 

So  he  followed  a  path  that  led  to  this  water  and  by  and  by  he  came  to  an 


HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RIDETH  INTO   THE  FOREST  IS 

open  space  very  stony  and  rough.  And  he  saw  that  here  was  a  great  torrent 
of  water  that  came  roaring  down  from  the  hills  very  violent  and  turbid  and 
covered  all  over  with  foam  like  to  cream.  And  he  beheld  that  there  was  a 
bridge  of  stone  that  spanned  the  torrent  and  that  upon  the  farther  side  of 
the  bridge  was  a  considerable  body  of  men-at-arms  all  in  full  armor.  And 
he^  beheld  that  there  were  at  least  five-and-twenty  of  these  men,  and  that 
chief  among  them  was  a  man  clad  in  green  armor. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  rode  out  upon  the  bridge  and  he  called  to  those  armed 
men:  "Can  you  tell  me  whether  this  way  leads  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Melle- 
grans?" 

They  say  to  him:  "Who  are  you,  Sir  Knight?" 

"I  am  one,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "who  seeks  the  castle  of  Sir  Melle- 
grans.  For  that  knight  hath  violently  seized  upon  the  person  of  the  Lady 
Guinevere  and  of  certain  of  her  court,  and  he  now  holds  her  and  them  cap- 
tive and  in  duress.  I  am  one  who  hath  come  to  rescue  that  lady  and  her 
court  from  their  distress  and  anxiety." 

Upon  this  the  Green  Knight,  who  was  the  chief  of  that  party,  came  a 
little  nearer  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  said:  "Messire,  are  you  Sir  Launcelot  of 
the  Lake? "  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  Yea,  I  am  he."  "  Then,"  said  the  Green 
Knight,  "  you  can  go  no  farther  upon  this  pass,  for  you  are  to  know  that  we 
are  the  people  of  Sir  Mellegrans,  and  that  we  are  here  to  stay  you  or  any 
of  your  fellows  from  going  forward  upon  this  way." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  laughed,  and  he  said:  "Messire,  how  will  you  stay 
me  against  my  will? "  The  Green  Knight  said:  "  We  will  stay  you  by  force 
of  our  numbers."  "Well,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "for  the  matter  of  that, 
I  have  made  my  way  against  greater  odds  than  those  I  now  see  before  me. 
So  your  peril  will  be  of  your  own  devising,  if  you  seek  to  stay  me." 

Therewith  he  cast  aside  his  spear  and  drew  his  sword,  and  set  spurs  to 
his  horse  and  rode  forward  against  them.  And  he  rode  straight 
in  amongst  them  with  great  violence,  lashing  right  and  left 
with  his  sword,  so  that  at  every  stroke  a  man  fell  down  from 
out  of  his  saddle.  So  fierce  and  direful  were  the  blows  that 
Sir  Launcelot  delivered  that  the  terror  of  his  rage  fell  upon  them,  where- 
fore, after  a  while,  they  fell  away  from  before  him,  and  left  him  standing 
alone  in  the  centre  of  the  way. 

Now  there  were  a  number  of  the  archers  of  Sir  Mellegrans  lying  hidden 
in  the  rocks  at  the  sides  of  that  pass.  These,  seeing  how  that  battle  was 
going  and  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  driven  back  their  companions,  straightway 
fitted  arrows  to  their  bows  and  began  shooting  at  the  horse  of  Sir  Launcelot. 
Against  these  archers  Sir  Launcelot  could  in  no  wise  defend  his  horse, 


16  THE   CHEVALIER  OF   THE  CART 

wherefore  the  steed  was  presently  sorely  wounded  and  began  plunging  and 
snorting  in  pain  so  that  Sir  Launcelot  could  hardly  hold  him  in  check.  And 

sir  Launce     s^  ^e  arcners  shot  arrow  after  arrow  until  by  and  by  the  life 

lot,  his  horse  began  to  go  out  of  the  horse.  Then  after  a  while  the  good  steed 
fell  down  upon,  his  knees  and  rolled  over  into  the  dust ;  for  he 
was  so  sorely  wounded  that  he  could  no  longer  stand. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  did  not  fall,  but  voided  his  saddle  with  great  skill  and 
address,  so  that  he  kept  his  feet,  wherefore  his  enemies  were  not  able  to  take 
him  at  such  disadvantage  as  they  would  have  over  a  fallen  knight  who  lay 
upon  the  ground. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  stood  there  in  the  midst  of  the  way  at  the  end  of  the 
bridge,  and  he  waved  his  sword  this  way  and  that  way  before  him  so  that 
not  one  of  those,  his  enemies,  dared  to  come  nigh  to  him.  For  the  terror 
of  him  still  lay  upon  them  all  and  they  dreaded  those  buffets  he  had  given 
them  in  the  battle  they  had  just  fought  with  him. 

Wherefore  they  stood  at  a  considerable  distance  regarding  Sir  Launcelot 
and  not  daring  to  come  nigh  to  him ;  and  they  stood  so  for  a  long  time.  And 
although  the  Green  Knight  commanded  them  to  fight,  they  would  not  fight 
any  more  against  Sir  Launcelot,  so  the  Green  Knight  had  to  give  orders  for 
them  to  cease  that  battle  and  to  depart  from  that  place.  This  they  did, 
leaving  Sir  Launcelot  standing  where  he  was. 

Thus  Sir  Launcelot  with  his  single  arm  won  a  battle  against  all  that  mul- 
titude of  enemies  as  I  have  told. 

But  though  Sir  Launcelot  had  thus  won  that  pass  with  great  credit  and 
honor  to  himself,  fighting  as  a  single  man  against  so  many,  yet  he  was  still  in 
a  very  sorry  plight.  For  there  he  stood,  a  full-armed  man  with  such  a  great 
weight  of  armor  upon  him  that  he  could  hardly  hope  to  walk  a  league,  far 
less  to  reach  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans  afoot.  Nor  knew  he  what  to  do  in 
this  extremity,  for  where  could  he  hope  to  find  a  horse  in  that  thick  forest, 
where  was  hardly  a  man  or  a  beast  of  any  sort?  Wherefore,  although  he 
had  won  his  battle,  he  was  yet  in  no  ease  or  satisfaction  of  spirit. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  went  upon  that  adventure ;  and  now  you 
shall  hear  how  it  sped  with  him  further,  if  so  be  you  are  pleased  to  read  that 
which  followeth. 


otoSir  Launcelotrobe  jr 
errant  inacart* 


Chapter  Second 

How  Sir  Launcelot  rode  in  a  cart  to  rescue  Queen  Guinevere  and 
how  he  came  in  that  way  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans. 

NOW  after  Sir  Launcelot  was  thus  left  by  his  enemies  standing  alone 
in  the  road  as  aforetold  of,  he  knew  not  for  a  while  what  to  do, 
nor  how  he  should  be  able  to  get  him  away  from  that  place. 

As  he  stood  there  adoubt  as  to  what  to  do  in  this  sorry  case,  he  by  and  by 
heard  upon  one  side  from  out  of  the  forest  the  sound  of  an  axe  at  a  distance 
away,  and  thereat  he  was  very  glad,  for  he  wist  that  help  was  nigh.  So  he 
took  up  his  shield  on  his  shoulder  and  his  spear  in  his  hand  and  thereupon 
directed  his  steps  toward  where  he  heard  that  sound  of  the  axe,  in  hopes 
that  there  he  might  find  some  one  who  could  aid  in  his  extremity.  So  after 
a  while,  he  came  forth  into  a  little  open  glade  of  the  forest  where  he  beheld  a 
fagotmaker  chopping  fagots.  And  he  beheld  the  fagotmaker  had  there  a 
cart  and  a  horse  for  to  fetch  his  fagots  from  the  forest. 

But  when  the  fagotmaker  saw  an  armed  knight  come  thus  like  a  shining 
vision  out  of  the  forest,  walking  afoot,  bearing  his  shield  upon  his  shoulder, 
and  his  spear  in  his  hand,  he  knew  not  what  to  think  of  such  a  sight,  but 
stood  staring  with  his  mouth  agape  for  wonders. 

Sir  Launcelot  said  to  him,  " Good  fellow,  is  that  thy  cart?"  The  fagot- 
maker said,  "  Yea,  Messire."  "  I  would,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "have  thee 
do  me  a  service  with  that  cart,"  and  the  fagotmaker  asked,  "What  is  the 
service  that  thou  wouldst  have  of  me,  Messire  ? "  Sir  Launcelot  said :  "  This 
is  the  service  I  would  have :  it  is  that  you  take  me  into  yonder  cart  and  hale 
me  to  somewhere  I  may  get  a  horse  for  to  ride ;  for  mine  own  horse  hath  just 
now  been  slain  in  battle,  and  I  know  not  how  I  may  go  forward  upon  the 
adventure  I  have  undertaken  unless  I  get  me  another  horse." 

Now  you  must  know  that  in  those  days  it  was  not  thought  worthy  of  any 
one  of  degree  to  ride  in  a  cart  in  that  wise  as  Sir  Launcelot  said,  for  they 
would  take  law-breakers  to  the  gallows  in  just  such  carts  as  that  one  in 
which  Sir  Launcelot  made  demand  to  ride.  Wherefore  it  was  that  that  poor 
fagotmaker  knew  not  what  to  think  when  he  heard  Sir  Launcelot  give  com- 


20  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 

mand  that  he  should  be  taken  to  ride  in  that  cart.  "  Messire,"  quoth  he, 
"  this  cart  is  no  fit  thing  for  one  of  your  quality  to  ride  in.  Now  I  beseech 
you  let  me  serve  you  in  some  other  way  than  that." 

But  Sir  Launcelot  made  reply  as  follows:  "Sirrah,  I  would  have  thee 
know  that  there  is  no  shame  in  riding  in  a  cart  for  a  worthy  purpose,  but 
there  is  great  shame  if  one  rides  therein  unworthily.  And  contrariwise,  a 
man  doth  not  gain  credit  merely  for  riding  on  horseback,  for  his  credit  ap- 
pertains to  his  conduct,  and  not  to  what  manner  he  rideth.  So  as  my  pur- 
pose is  worthy,  I  shall,  certes,  be  unworthy  if  I  go  not  to  fulfil  that  purpose, 
even  if  in  so  going  I  travel  in  thy  poor  cart.  So  do  as  I  bid  thee  and  make 
thy  cart  ready,  and  if  thou  wilt  bring  me  in  it  to  where  I  may  get  a  fresh 
horse,  I  will  give  thee  five  pieces  of  gold  money  for  thy  service." 

Now  when  the  fagotmaker  heard  what  Sir  Launcelot  said  about  the  five 
pieces  of  gold  money,  he  was  very  joyful,  wherefore  he  ran  to  make  ready 
his  cart  with  all  speed.  And  when  the  cart  was  made  ready,  Sir  Launcelot 
entered  into  it  with  his  shield  and  his  spear. 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  came  to  ride  errant  in  a  cart, 

Sir  Launcelot  wnere^ore>  f°r  a  l°ng  time  after,  he  was  called  the  Chevalier  of 

rideth  in  a  the  Cart.  And  many  ballads  and  songs  were  made  concern- 
ing that  matter,  which  same  were  sung  in  several  courts  of 
chivalry  by  minstrels  and  jongleurs,  and  these  same  stories  and  ballads 
have  come  down  from  afar  to  us  of  this  very  day. 

Meantime  Sir  Launcelot  rode  forward  at  a  slow  pass  and  in  that  way  for 
a  great  distance.  So,  at  last,  still  riding  in  the  cart,  they  came  of  a  sudden 
out  of  the  forest  and  into  a  little  fertile  valley  in  the  midst  of  which  lay  a 
small  town  and  a  fair  castle  with  seven  towers  that  overlooked  the  town. 
And  this  was  a  very  fair  pretty  valley,  for  on  all  sides  of  the  town  and  of  the 
castle  were  fields  of  growing  corn,  all  green  and  lush,  and  there  were  many 
hedgerows  and  orchards  of  fruit-trees  all  abloom  with  fragrant  blossoms. 
And  the  sound  of  cocks  crowing  came  to  Sir  Launcelot  upon  a  soft  breeze 
that  blew  up  the  valley,  and  on  the  same  breeze  came  the  fragrance  of  apple 
blossoms,  wherefore  it  seemed  to  Sir  Launcelot  that  this  valley  was  like  a 
fair  jewel  of  heaven  set  in  the  rough  perlieus  of  the  forest  that  lay  round 
about. 

So  the  fagotmaker  drove  Sir  Launcelot  in  the  cart  down  into  that  valley 
toward  the  castle,  and  as  they  drew  near  thereunto  Sir  Launcelot  was  aware 
of  a  party  of  lords  and  ladies  who  were  disporting  themselves  in  a  smooth 
meadow  of  green  grass  that  lay  spread  out  beneath  the  castle  walls.  And 
some  of  these  lords  and  ladies  tossed  a  ball  from  one  to  another,  and  others 
lay  in  the  grass  in  the  shade  of  a  lime-tree  and  watched  those  that  played 


HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  COMETH  TO  A  CASTLE  2l 

at  ball.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  glad  to  see  those  gentle  folk,  for  he  thought 
that  here  he  might  get  him  a  fresh  horse  to  take  him  upon  his  way.  So  he 
gave  command  to  the  fagotmaker  to  drive  to  where  those  people  were. 

But  as  Sir  Launcelot,  riding  in  the  fagotmaker's  cart,  drew  near  to  those 
castle-folk,  they  ceased  their  play  and  stood  and  looked  at  him  with  great 
astonishment,  for  they  had  never  beheld  an  armed  knight  riding  in  a  cart 
in  that  wise.  Then,  in  a  little,  they  all  fell  to  laughing  beyond  measure,  and 
at  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  greatly  abashed  with  shame. 

Then  the  lord  of  that  castle  came  forward  to  meet  Sir  Launcelot.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  dignity  of  demeanor — gray-haired,  and  clad  in  velvet  trimmed 
with  fur.  When  he  came  nigh  to  where  Sir  Launcelot  was,  he  said,  speaking 
as  with  great  indignation :  "  Sir  knight,  why  do  you  ride  in  this  wise  in  a  cart, 
like  to  a  law-breaker  going  to  the  gallows? " 

"  Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "  I  ride  thus  because  my  horse  was  slain  by 
treachery.  For  I  have  an  adventure  which  I  have  undertaken  to  perform, 
and  I  have  no  other  way  to  go  forward  upon  that  quest  than  this." 

Then  all  those  who  heard  what  Sir  Launcelot  said  laughed  again  with 
great  mirth.     Only  the  old  lord  of  the  castle  did  not  laugh,    The  hrd  oj  a 
but  said,  still  speaking  as  with  indignation:  "  Sir  Knight,  it  is   castle  chideth 
altogether  unworthy  of  one  of  your  degree  to  ride  thus  in  a  cart 
to  be  made  a  mock  of.     Wherefore  come  down,  and  if  you  prove  yourself 
worthy  I  myself  will  purvey  you  a  horse." 

But  by  this  time  Sir  Launcelot  had  become  greatly  affronted  at  the 
laughter  of  those  who  jeered  at  him,  and  he  was  furthermore  affronted  that 
the  lord  of  the  castle  should  deem  him  to  be  unworthy  because  he  came 
thither  in  a  cart ;  wherefore  he  said:  "  Sir,  without  boasting,  methinks  I  may 
say  that  I  am  altogether  as  worthy  as  any  one  hereabouts.    Nor  do  I  think 
that  any  one  of  you  all  has  done  more  worthily  in  his  degree  than  I  have  done 
in  my  degree.     As  for  any  lack  of  worship  that  may  befall  me  for  riding  thus, 
I  may  say  that  the  adventure  which  I  have  undertaken  just  now  to  I*™™1 
is  in  itself  so  worthy  that  it  will  make  worthy  any  man  who  may  unde 
it,  no  matter  how  he  may  ride  to  that  adventure.    Now  I  had  thought 
ask  of  you  a  fresh  horse,  but  since  your  people  mock  at  me  and  since  yc 
rebuke  me  so  discourteously,  I  will  ask  you  for  nothing.    Wherefore,  to ; 
you  that  knightly  worthiness  does  not  depend  upon  the  way  a  knighi 
ride,  I  herewith  make  my  vow  that  I  will  not  mount  upon 
quest  is  achieved ;  nor  will  I  ride  to  that  adventure  in  an 
this  poor  cart  wherein  I  now  stand. ' '  «       .    ,  « 

So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  away  in  his  cart  from  those  ca  st le-fofe  .And  he 
rode  thus  down  into  the  valley  and  through  the  town  that  was  m  the  vail 


22  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 

in  the  fagotmaker's  cart,  and  all  who  beheld  him  laughed  at  him  and 
mocked  him.  For,  as  he  passed  along  the  way,  many  came  and  looked 
down  upon  him  from  out  of  the  windows  of  the  houses ;  and  others  ran  along 
beside  the  cart  and  all  laughed  and  jeered  at  him  to  see  him  thus  riding  in 
a  cart  as  though  to  a  hanging.  But  all  this  Sir  Launcelot  bore  with  great 
calmness  of  demeanor,  both  because  of  his  pride  and  because  of  the  vow  that 
he  had  made.  Wherefore  he  continued  to  ride  in  that  cart  although  he 
might  easily  have  got  him  a  fresh  horse  from  the  lord  of  the  castle. 

Now  turn  we  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans,  where  Queen  Guinevere  and 
her  court  were  held  prisoners. 

First  of  all  you  are  to  know  that  that  part  of  the  castle  wherein  she  and 
her  court  were  held  overlooked  the  road  which  led  up  to  the  gate  of  the 
castle.  Wherefore  it  came  about  that  one  of  the  damsels  of  the  Queen, 
looking  out  of  the  window  of  the  chamber  wherein  the  Queen  was  held 
prisoner,  beheld  a  knight  armed  at  all  points,  corning  riding  thitherward 
in  a  cart.  Beholding  this  sight,  she  fell  to  laughing,  whereat  the  Queen 
said,  "What  is  it  you  laugh  at?"  That  damsel  cried  out:  "Lady,  Lady, 
look,  see!  What  a  strange  sight!  Yonder  is  a  knight  riding  in  a  cart  as 
though  he  were  upon  his  way  to  a  hanging!" 

Then  Queen  Guinevere  came  to  the  window  and  looked  out,  and  several 

The  Queen     came  and  looked  out  also.     At  first  none  of  them  wist  who  it 

beholds  sir     was  that  rode  in  that  cart.     But  when  the  cart  had  come  a  little 

riding  in  a     nearer  to  where  they  were,  the  Queen  knew  who  he  was,  for  she 

cart.  beheld  the  device  upon  the  shield,  even  from  afar,  and  she 

knew  that  the  knight  was  Sir  Launcelot.     Then  the  Queen  turned  to  the 

damsel  and  said  to  her:  "  You  laugh  without  knowing  what  it  is  you  laugh 

at.     Yonder  gentleman  is  no  subject  for  a  jest,  for  he  is  without  any  doubt 

the  worthiest  knight  of  any  who  ever  wore  golden  spurs." 

Now  amongst  those  who  stood  there  looking  out  of  the  window  were  Sir 
Percydes  and  Sir  Brandiles  and  Sir  Ironside,  and  in  a  little  Sir  Percydes  also 
saw  the  device  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  therewith  knew  who  it  was  who  rode  in 
the  cart.  But  when  Sir  Percydes  knew  that  that  knight  was  Sir  Launcelot, 
he  was  greatly  offended  that  he,  who  was  the  chiefest  knight  of  the  Round 
Table,  should  ride  in  a  cart  in  that  wise.  So  Sir  Percydes  said  to  the  Queen : 
"  Lady,  I  believe  yonder  knight  is  none  other  than  Sir  Launce- 
lot  of  the  Lake."  And  Queen  Guinevere  said,  "  It  is  assuredly 
he'"  Sir  percYdes  said:  "Then  I  take  it  to  be  a  great  shame 
that  the  chiefest  knight  of  the  Round  Table  should  ride 
so  in  a  cart  as  though  he  were  a  felon  law-breaker.  For  the  world  will 


HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  IN  THE  CART 

assuredly  hear  of  this  and  it  will  be  made  a  jest  in  every  court  of  chivalry 
And  all  we  who  are  his  companions  in  arms  and  who  are  his  brethren  of  the 
Round  Table  will  be  made  a  jest  and  a  laughing-stock  along  with  him." 

Thus  spake  Sir  Percydes,  and  the  other  knights  who  were  there  and  all  the 
ladies  who  were  there  agreed  with  him  that  it  was  great  shame  for  Sir  Laun- 
celot  to  come  thus  to  save  the  Queen,  riding  in  a  cart. 

But  the  Queen  said:  "  Messires  and  ladies,  I  take  no  care  for  the  manner 
in  which  Sir  Launcelot  cometh,  for  I  believe  he  cometh  for  to  rescue  us 
from  this  captivity,  and  if  so  be  he  is  successful  in  that  undertaking,  then  it 
will  not  matter  how  he  cometh  to  perform  so  worthy  a  deed  of  knighthood 
as  that." 

Thus  all  they  were  put  to  silence  by  the  Queen's  words;  but  nevertheless 
and  afterward  those  knights  who  were  there  still  held  amongst  themselves 
that  it  was  great  shame  for  Sir  Launcelot  to  come  thus  in  a  cart  to  rescue  the 
Queen,  instead  of  first  getting  for  himself  a  horse  whereon  to  ride  as  became 
a  knight-errant  of  worthiness  and  respect. 

Now  you  are  to  know  that  the  Green  Knight,  who  was  the  head  of  that 
party  that  tried  to  stand  against  Sir  Launcelot  at  the  bridge  as  aforesaid, 
when  he  beheld  that  the  horse  of  Sir  Launcelot  was  shot,  rode  away  from 
the  place  of  battle  with  his  men,  and  that  he  never  stopped  nor  stayed  until 
he  had  reached  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans.  There  coming,  he  went  straight- 
way to  where  Sir  Mellegrans  was  and  told  Sir  Mellegrans  all  that  had  be- 
fallen, and  how  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  overcome  them  all  with  his  single 
hand  at  the  bridge  of  the  torrent.  And  he  told  Sir  Mellegrans  that  haply 
Sir  Launcelot  would  be  coming  to  that  place  before  a  very  great  while  had 
passed,  although  he  had  been  delayed  because  his  horse  had  been  slain. 

At  that  Sir  Mellegrans  was  put  to  great  anxiety,  for  he  also  knew  that  Sir 
Launcelot  would  be  likely  to  be  at  that  place  before  a  very  great   sir  Melle. 
while,  and  he  wist  that  there  would  be  great  trouble  for  him  §*»££ 
when  that  should  come  to  pass.     So  he  began  to  cast  about 
very  busily  in  his  mind  for  some  scheme  whereby  he  might  destroy  v 
Launcelot.     And  at  last  he  hit  upon  a  scheme;  and  that  scheme  was 
worthy  of  him  both  as  a  knight  and  as  a  gentleman. 

So  when  news  was  brought  to  Sir  Mellegrans  that  Sir  Launcelot  was 
in  front  of  the  castle  in  a  cart,  Sir  Mellegrans  went  down  to  the  barbican  of 
the  castle  and  looked  out  of  a  window  of  the  barbican  and  beheld L  b j 
Launcelot  where  he  stood  in  the  cart  before  the  gate  of  the  castle.     And 
Mellegrans  said,  "  Sir  Launcelot,  is  it  thou  who  art  there  in  the  carL 

Sir  Launcelot  replied:  "  Yea,  thou  traitor  knight,  it  is  I,  and  I  come  to 


24  THE  CHEVALIER  OF   THE  CART 

thee  thou  shalt  not  escape  my  vengeance  either  now  or  at  some  other 
time  unless  thou  set  free  the  Queen  and  all  her  court  and  make  due 
reparation  to  her  and  to  them  and  to  me  for  all  the  harm  you  have  wrought 
upon  us.  " 

To  this  Sir  Mellegrans  spake  in  a  very  soft  and  humble  tone  of  voice,  say- 

ing: "  Messire,  I  have  taken  much  thought,  and  I  now  much  repent  me  of  all 

that  I  have  done.     For  though  my  provocation  hath  been  great,  yet  I  have 

done  extremely  ill  in  all  this  that  hath  happened,  so  I  am  of  a 

grans  Ipeak-    mind  to  make  reparation  for  what  I  have  done.     Yet  I  know 


eth  to  sir  nO£  hOw  to  make  such  reparation  without  bringing  ruin  upon 
myself.  If  thou  wilt  intercede  with  me  before  the  Queen  in 
this  matter,  I  will  let  thee  into  this  castle  and  I  myself  will  take  thee  to  her 
where  she  is.  And  after  I  have  been  forgiven  what  I  have  done,  then  ye 
shall  all  go  free,  and  I  will  undertake  to  deliver  myself  unto  the  mercy  of 
King  Arthur  and  will  render  all  duty  unto  him." 

At  this  repentance  of  Sir  Mellegrans  Sir  Launcelot  was  very  greatly 
astonished.  But  yet  he  was  much  adoubt  as  to  the  true  faith  of  that 
knight;  wherefore  he  said:  "  Sir  Knight,  how  may  I  know  that  that  which 
thou  art  telling  me  is  the  truth?  " 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Mellegrans,  "it  is  small  wonder,  I  dare  say,  that  thou 
hast  doubt  of  my  word.  But  I  will  prove  my  faith  to  thee  in  this  :  I  will 
come  to  thee  unarmed  as  I  am  at  this  present,  and  I  will  admit  thee  into  my 
castle,  and  I  will  lead  thee  to  the  Queen.  And  as  thou  art  armed  and  I  am 
unarmed,  thou  mayest  easily  slay  me  if  so  be  thou  seest  that  I  make  any 
sign  of  betraying  thee." 

But  still  Sir  Launcelot  was  greatly  adoubt,  and  wist  not  what  to  think  of 
that  which  Sir  Mellegrans  said.  But  after  a  while,  and  after  he  had  consid- 
ered the  matter  for  a  space,  he  said:  "If  all  this  that  thou  tellest  me  is 
true,  Sir  Knight,  then  come  down  and  let  me  into  this  castle  as  thou  hast 
promised  to  do,  for  I  will  venture  that  much  upon  thy  faith.  But  if  I 
see  that  thou  hast  a  mind  to  deal  falsely  by  me,  then  I  will  indeed  slay 
thee  as  thou  hast  given  me  leave  to  do."  And  Sir  Mellegrans  said,  "  I  am 
content." 

So  Sir  Mellegrans  went  down  from  where  he  was  and  he  gave  command 

that  the  gates  of  the  castle  should  be  opened.     And  when  the 

grans  Ineeis     gates  were  opened  he  went  forth  to  where  Sir  Launcelot  was. 

to  Sir  Launce-  And  Sir   Launcelot  descended  from  the  fagotmaker's  cart, 

and  Sir  Mellegrans  kneeled  down  before  him,  and  he  set  his 

palms  together  and  he  said,  "  Sir  Launcelot,  I  crave  thy  pardon  for  what  I 

have  done." 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  ENTERETH   THE  CASTLE  25 

Sir  'Launcelot  said:  "Sir  Knight,  if  indeed  thou  meanest  no  further 
treachery,  thou  hast  my  pardon  and  I  will  also  intercede  with  the  Queen  to 
pardon  thee  as  well.  So  take  me  straightway  to  her,  for  until  I  behold 
her  with  mine  own  eyes  I  cannot  believe  altogether  in  thy  repentance." 
Then  Sir  Mellegrans  arose  and  said,  "  Come,  and  I  will  take  thee  to  her." 

So  Sir  Mellegrans  led  the  way  into  the  castle  and  Sir  Launcelot  followed 
after  him  with  his  naked  sword  in  his  hand.  And  Sir  Mellegrans  led  the 
way  deep  into  the  castle  and  along  several  passageways  and  still  Sir  Launce- 
lot followed  after  him  with  his  drawn  sword,  ready  for  to  slay  him  if  he 
should  show  sign  of  treason. 

Now  there  was  in  a  certain  part  of  that  castle  and  in  the  midst  of  a  long 
passageway  a  trap-door  that  opened  through  the  floor  of  the  passageway 
and  so  into  a  deep  and  gloomy  pit  beneath.    And  this  trap-door  was  con- 
trolled by  a  cunning  latch  of  which  Sir  Mellegrans  alone  knew  the  secret; 
for  when  Sir  Mellegrans  would  touch  the  latch  with  his  finger,  the  trap-door 
would  immediately  fall  open  into  the  pit  beneath.    So  thitherward  to  that 
place  Sir  Mellegrans  led  the  way  and  Sir  Launcelot  followed.    And  Sir 
Mellegrans  passed  over  that  trap-door  in  safety,  but  when  Sir  Launcelot  had 
stepped  upon  the  trap-door,  Sir  Mellegrans  touched  the  spring  that  controlled 
the  latch  with  his  finger,  and  the  trap-door  immediately  opened   sir  Launce, 
beneath  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Launcelot  fell  down  into  the   lot  jatteth  into 
pit  beneath.     And  the  pit  was  very  deep  indeed  and  the  floor 
thereof  was  of  stone,  so  that  when  Sir  Launcelot  fell  he  smote  the  stone 
floor  so  violently  that  he  was  altogether  bereft  of  his  senses  and  lay  there 
in  the  pit  like  to  one  who  was  dead. 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  came  back  to  the  open  space  of  the  trap-door  and  he 
looked  down  into  the  pit  beneath  and  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  lay. 
Thereupon  Sir  Mellegrans  laughed  and  he  cried  out,  "  Sir  Launcelot,  what 
cheer  have  you  now? "  But  Sir  Launcelot  answered  not. 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  laughed  again,  and  he  closed  the  trap-door  and  went 
away,  and  he  said  to  himself:  "Now  indeed  have  I  such  hostages  in  my 
keeping  that  King  Arthur  must  needs  set  right  this  wrong  he  hath  aforetime 
done  me.     For  I  now  have  in  my  keeping  not  only  his  Queen,  but  also  ti 
foremost  knight  of  his  Round  Table;  wherefore  King  Arthur  must  n 
come  to  me  to  make  such  terms  with  me  as  I  shall  determine. 

As  for  Queen  Guinevere,  she  waited  with  her  court  for  a  long ;  time >  for 
news  of  Sir  Launcelot,  for  she  wist  that  now  Sir  Launcelot  was  there  at 
place  she  must  needs  have  news  of  him  sooner  or  later     But  no  n 
to  her;  wherefore,  as  time  passed  by,  she  took  great  trouble  1 


26  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 

had  no  news,  and  she  said :  "  Alas,  if  ill  should  have  befallen  that  good  worthy 
knight  at  the  hands  of  the  treacherous  lord  of  this  castle!" 

But  she  knew  not  how  great  at  that  very  time  was  the  ill  into  which  Sir 
Launcelot  had  fallen,  nor  of  how  he  was  even  then  lying  like  as  one  dead  in 
the  pit  beneath  the  floor  of  the  passageway. 


Damsel  Klouisci^cFair 
rescues  Sir  Launcelot 


Chapter  Third 

How  Sir  Launcelot  was  rescued  from  the  pit  and  how  he  overcame 
Sir  Mellegrans  and  set  free  the  Queen  and  her  court  from  the 
duress  they  were  in. 

NOW  when  Sir  Launcelot  awoke  from  that  swoon  into  which  he  was 
cast  by  falling  so  violently  into  the  pit,  he  found  himself  to  be  in  a 
very  sad,  miserable  case.     For  he  lay  there  upon  the  hard  stones 
of  the  floor  and  all  about  him  there  was  a  darkness  so  great  that  there  was 
not  a  single  ray  of  light  that  penetrated  into  it. 

So  for  a  while  Sir  Launcelot  knew  not  where  he  was ;  but  by  and  by  he 
remembered  that  he  was  in  the  castle  of  Sir  Mellegrans,  and  he  remembered 
all  that  had  befallen  him,  and  therewith,  when  he  knew  himself  sir  Launce 
to  be  a  prisoner  in  so  miserable  a  condition,  he  groaned  with   lot  lyeth  in 
dolor  and  distress,  for  he  was  at  that  time  in  great  pain  both   the  **' 
of  mind  and  body.     Then  he  cried  out  in  a  very  mournful  voice :  "  Woe  is 
me  that  I  should  have  placed  any  faith  in  a  traitor  such  as  this  knight  hath 
from  the  very  beginning  shown  himself  to  be!     For  here  am  I  now  cast 
into  this  dismal  prison,  and  know  not  how  I  shall  escape  from  it  to  bring 
succor  to  those  who  so  greatly  need  my  aid  at  this  moment." 

So  Sir  Launcelot  bemoaned  and  lamented  himself,  but  no  one  heard  him, 
for  he  was  there  all  alone  in  that  miserable  dungeon  and  in  a  darkness  into 
which  no  ray  of  light  could  penetrate. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  bent  his  mind  to  think  of  how  he  might  escape  from 
that  place,  but  though  he  thought  much,  yet  he  could  not  devise  any  way 
in  which  he  might  mend  the  evil  case  in  which  he  found  himself;  wherefore 
he  was  altogether  overwhelmed  with  despair.  And  by  that  time  it  had 
grown  to  be  about  the  dead  of  the  night. 

Now  as  Sir  Launcelot  lay  there  in  such  despair  of  spirit  as  aforetold  of,  he 
was  suddenly  aware  that  there  came  a  gleam  of  light  shining  in  a  certain 
place,  and  he  was  aware  the  light  grew  ever  brighter  and  brighter  and  he 
beheld  that  it  came  through  the  cracks  of  a  door.  And  by  and  by  he  heard 
the  sound  of  keys  from  without  and  immediately  afterward  the  door  opened 


30  THE  CHEVALIER   OF   THE   CART 

and  there  entered  into  that  place  a  damsel  bearing  a  lighted  lamp  in  her 
hand. 

At  first  Sir  Launcelot  knew  not  who  she  was,  and  then  he  knew  her  and  lo  ! 
The  Lad  ^at  damsel  was  tne  Lady  Elouise  the  Fair,  the  daughter  of  King 

findeth    Bagdemagus  and  sister  unto  Sir  Mellegrans  ;  and  she  was  the 


s*r  Launcelot-  same  who  had  aforetime  rescued  him  when  he  had  been  pris- 
oner to  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay,  as  hath  been  told  you  in  a  former  book  of 
this  history. 

So  Elouise  the  Fair  came  into  that  dismal  place,  bringing  with  her  the 
lighted  lamp,  and  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  her  eyes  were  red  with  weeping. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot,  beholding  that  she  had  been  thus  weeping,  said: 
"  Lady,  what  is  it  that  ails  you?  Is  there  aught  that  I  can  do  for  to  com- 
fort you?"  To  this  she  said  naught,  but  came  to  where  Sir  Launcelot 
was  and  looked  at  him  for  a  long  while.  By  and  by  she  said  :  "  Woe  is  me 
to  find  thee  thus,  Sir  Launcelot  !  And  woe  is  me  that  it  should  have  been 
mine  own  brother  that  should  have  brought  thee  to  this  pass!  " 

Sir  Launcelot  was  much  moved  to  see  her  so  mournful  and  he  said  :  "  Lady, 
take  comfort  to  thyself,  for  whatever  evil  thing  Sir  Mellegrans  may  have 
done  to  me,  naught  of  reproach  or  blame  can  fall  thereby  upon  thee,  for  I 
shall  never  cease  to  remember  how  thou  didst  one  time  save  me  from  a  very 
grievous  captivity." 

The  Lady  Elouise  said:  "  Launcelot,  I  cannot  bear  to  see  so  noble  a  knight 
as  thou  art  lying  thus  in  duress.  So  it  is  that  I  come  hither  to  aid  thee. 
Now  if  I  set  thee  free  wilt  thou  upon  thy  part  show  mercy  unto  my  brother 
for  my  sake?" 

"  Lady,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "this  is  a  hard  case  thou  puttest  to  me,  for 
I  would  do  much  for  thy  sake.  But  I  would  have  thee  wist  that  it  is  my 
endeavor  to  help  in  my  small  way  to  punish  evil-doers  so  that  the  world 
may  be  made  better  by  that  punishment.  Wherefore  because  this  knight 
hath  dealt  so  treacherously  with  my  lady  the  Queen,  so  it  must  needs  be  that 
I  must  seek  to  punish  him  if  ever  I  can  escape  from  this  place.  But  if  it 
so  befalls  that  I  do  escape,  this  much  mercy  will  I  show  to  Sir  Mellegrans 
for  thy  sake  :  I  will  meet  him  in  fair  field,  as  one  knight  may  meet  another 
knight  in  that  wise.  And  I  will  show  him  such  courtesy  as  one  knight 
may  show  another  in  time  of  battle.  Such  mercy  will  I  show  thy  brother 
and  meseems  that  is  all  that  may  rightly  be  asked  of  me." 

Then  Elouise  the  Fair  began  weeping  afresh,  and  she  said  :  "  Alas,  Launce- 
lot! I  fear  me  that  my  brother  will  perish  at  thy  hands  if  so  be  that  it 
cometh  to  a  battle  betwixt  you  twain.  And  how  could  I  bear  it  to  have 
my  brother  perish  in  that  way  and  at  thy  hands?" 


ELOUISE    THE  FAIR   RESCUETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  Jx 

"Lady."  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "the  fate  of  battle  lyeth  ever  in  God  His 
hands  and  not  in  the  hands  of  men.  It  may  befall  any  man  to  die  who 
doeth  battle,  and  such  a  fate  may  be  mine  as  well  as  thy  brother's  So  do 
thou  take  courage,  for  whilst  I  may  not  pledge  myself  to  avoid  an  ordeal  of 
battle  with  Sir  Mellegrans,  yet  it  may  be  his  good  hap  that  he  may  live  and 
that  I  may  die." 

"  Alas,  Launcelot,"  quoth  the  Fair  Elouise,  "  and  dost  thou  think  that  it 
would  be  any  comfort  to  me  to  have  thee  die  at  the  hands  of  mine  own 
brother  ?  That  is  but  poor  comfort  to  me  who  am  the  sister  of  this  miserable 
man.  Yet  let  it  be  as  it  may  hap,  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  let  thee 
lie  here  in  this  place,  for  thou  wilt  assuredly  die  in  this  dark  and  miserable 
dungeon  if  I  do  not  aid  thee.  So  once  more  will  I  set  thee  free  as  I  did  afore- 
time when  thou  wast  captive  to  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay,  and  I  will  do  my 
duty  by  thee  as  the  daughter  of  a  king  and  the  daughter  of  a  true  knight 
may  do.  As  to  that  which  shall  afterward  befall,  that  will  I  trust  to  the 
mercy  of  God  to  see  that  it  shall  all  happen  as  He  shall  deem  best." 

So  saying,  the  damsel  Elouise  the  Fair  bade  Sir  Launcelot  to  arise  and  to 
follow  her,  and  he  did  so.  And  she  led  him  out  from  that  place  The 
and  up  a  long  flight  of  steps  and  so  to  a  fair  large  chamber 
that  was  high  up  in  a  tower  of  the  castle  and  under  the  eaves 
of  the  roof.  And  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  everything  was  °f a  &*• 
here  prepared  for  his  coming ;  for  there  was  a  table  at  that  place  set  with 
bread  and  meat  and  with  several  flagons  of  wine  for  his  refreshment.  And 
there  was  in  that  place  a  silver  ewer  full  of  cold,  clear  water,  and  that 
there  was  a  basin  of  silver,  and  that  there  were  several  napkins  of  fine 
linen  such  as  are  prepared  for  knights  to  dry  their  hands  upon.  All  these 
had  been  prepared  for  him  against  his  coming,  and  at  that  sight  he  was 
greatly  uplifted  with  satisfaction. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  bathed  his  face  and  his  hands  in  the  water  and  he  dried 
them  upon  the  napkins.  And  he  sat  him  down  at  the  table  and  he  ate  and 
drank  with  great  appetite  and  the  Lady  Elouise  the  Fair  served  him.  And 
so  Sir  Launcelot  was  greatly  comforted  in  body  and  in  spirit  by  that  re- 
freshment which  she  had  prepared  for  him. 

Then  after  Sir  Launcelot  had  thus  satisfied  the  needs  of  his  hunger,  the 
Lady  Elouise  led  him  to  another  room  and  there  showed  him  where  was  a 
soft  couch  spread  with  flame-colored  linen  and  she  said,  "Here  shalt  thou  rest 
at  ease  to-night,  and  in  the  morning  I  shall  bring  thy  sword  and  thy  shield  1 
thee."  Therewith  she  left  Sir  Launcelot  to  his  repose  and  he  laid  him  down 
upon  the  couch  and  slept  with  great  content. 

So  he  slept  very  soundly  all  that  night  and  until  the  next  morning,  what 


32  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  CART 

time,  the  Lady  Elouise  came  to  him  as  she  promised  and  fetched  unto  him 
his  sword  and  his  shield.  These  she  gave  unto  him,  saying:  "  Sir  Knight, 
I  know  not  whether  I  be  doing  evil  or  good  in  the  sight  of  Heaven  in  thus 
purveying  thee  with  thy  weapons ;  ne'ertheless,  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart 
to  leave  thee  unprotected  in  this  place  without  the  wherewithal  for  to 
defend  thyself  against  thine  enemies ;  for  that  would  be  indeed  to  compass 
thy  death  for  certain." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  altogether  filled  with  joy  to  have  his  weapons 
Sir  Launcelot  a£am» an(^  ne  gave  thanks  to  the  Lady  Elouise  without  measure. 
hath  his  And  after  that  he  hung  his  sword  at  his  side  and  set  his  shield 

•weapons  again.   upon  hig  shoulder  and  thereupon  felt  fear  of  no  man  in  all  of 

that  world,  whomsoever  that  one  might  be. 

After  that,  and  after  he  had  broken  his  fast,  Sir  Launcelot  went  forth 
from  out  of  the  chamber  where  he  had  abided  that  night,  and  he  went  down 
into  the  castle  and  into  the  courtyard  of  the  castle,  and  every  one  was  greatly 
astonished  at  his  coming,  for  they  deemed  him  to  be  still  a  prisoner  in  that 
dungeon  into  which  he  had  fallen. 

So  all  these,  when  they  beheld  him  coming,  full  armed  and  with  his  sword 
Sir  Launcelot  *n  k*s  ^an(^'  ^e(^  awaY  from  before  the  face  of  Sir  Launcelot, 
challenges  the  and  no  one  undertook  to  stay  him  in  his  going.  So  Sir 
Launcelot  reached  the  courtyard  of  the  castle,  and  when  he 
was  come  there  he  set  his  horn  to  his  lips,  and  blew  a  blast  that  sounded 
terribly  loud  and  shrill  throughout  the  entire  place. 

Meantime,  there  was  great  hurrying  hither  and  thither  in  the  castle  and 
a  loud  outcry  of  many  voices,  and  many  came  to  the  windows  and  looked 
down  into  the  courtyard  and  there  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  standing  clad  in 
full  armor,  glistening  very  bright  in  the  morning  light  of  the  sun. 

Meantime  several  messengers  had  run  to  where  Sir  Mellegrans  was  and 
told  him  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  escaped  out  of  that  pit  wherein  he  had 
fallen  and  that  he  was  there  in  the  courtyard  of  the  castle  in  full  armor. 

At  that  Sir  Mellegrans  was  overwhelmed  with  amazement,  and  a  great 
fear  seized  upon  him  and  gripped  at  his  vitals.  And  after  a  while  he  too 
went  by,  to  a  certain  place  whence  he  could  look  down  into  the  courtyard, 
and  there  he  also  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  stood  shining  in  the  sun- 
light. 

Now  at  that  moment  Sir  Launcelot  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  espied  Sir  Melle- 
grans where  he  was  at  the  window  of  that  place,  and  immediately  he  knew 
Sir  Mellegrans.  Thereupon  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice :  "  Sir  Mellegrans, 
thou  traitor  knight!  Come  down  and  do  battle,  for  here  I  await  thee  to 
come  and  meet  me." 


SIR  MELLEGRANS  FEARETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

33 

But  when  Sir  Mellegrans  heard  those  words  he  withdrew  very  hastily 
from  the  window  where  he  was,  and  he  went  away  in  great  terror  to  a 
certain  room  where  he  might  be  alone.  For  beholding  Sir  Launcelot  thus 
free  of  that  dungeon  from  which  he  had  escaped  he  knew  not  what  to  do 
to  flee  from  his  wrath.  Wherefore  he  said  to  himself:  "  Fool  that  I  was  to 
bring  this  knight  into  my  castle,  when  I  might  have  kept  him  outside  as 
long  as  I  chose  to  do  so!  What  now  shall  I  do  to  escape  from  his  ven- 
geance?" 

So  after  a  while  Sir  Mellegrans  sent  for  several  of  his  knights  and  he  took 
counsel  of  them  as  to  what  he  should  do  in  this  pass.  These  say  to  him: 
"Messire,  you  yourself  to  fulfil  your  schemes  have  brought  sir  Melons 
yonder  knight  into  this  place,  when  God  knows  he  could  not  to*^  33 
have  come  in  of  his  own  free  will.  So  now  that  he  is  here,  it  behooves  you 
to  go  and  arm  yourself  at  all  points  and  to  go  down  to  the  courtyard,  there 
to  meet  him  and  to  do  battle  with  him.  For  only  by  overcoming  him  can 
you  hope  to  escape  his  vengeance." 

But  Sir  Mellegrans  feared  Sir  Launcelot  with  all  his  heart,  wherefore  he 
said:  "Nay,  I  will  not  go  down  to  yonder  knight.  For  wit  ye  he  is  the 
greatest  knight  alive,  and  if  I  go  to  do  battle  with  him,  it  will  be  of  a  surety 
that  I  go  to  my  death.  Wherefore,  I  will  not  go." 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  called  a  messenger  to  him  and  he  said:  "  Go  down  to 
yonder  knight  in  the  courtyard  and  tell  him  that  I  will  not  do  battle  with 
him." 

So  the  messenger  went  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  delivered  that  message  to 
him.  But  when  Sir  Launcelot  heard  what  it  was  that  the  messenger  said 
to  him  from  Sir  Mellegrans,  he  laughed  with  great  scorn.  Then  he  said  to 
the  messenger,  "Doth  the  knight  of  this  castle  fear  to  meet  me?"  The 
messenger  said,  "  Yea,  Messire."  Sir  Launcelot  said:  " Then  take  thou  this 
message  to  him:  that  I  will  lay  aside  my  shield  and  my  helm  and  that  I 
will  unarm  all  the  left  side  of  my  body,  and  thus,  half  naked,  will  I  fight  him 
if  only  he  will  come  down  and  do  battle  with  me." 

So  saying,  the  messenger  departed  as  Sir  Launcelot  bade,  and  came  to  Sir 
Mellegrans  and  delivered  that  message  to  him  as  Sir  Launcelot  had  said. 

Then  Sir  Mellegrans  said  to  those  who  were  with  him:  "Now  I  will  go 
down  and  do  battle  with  this  knight,  for  never  will  I  have  a  better  chance 
of  overcoming  him  than  this."  Therewith  he  turned  to  that 
messenger,  and  he  said:  "Go!  Hasten  back  to  yonder  knight, 
and  tell  him  that  I  will  do  battle  with  him  upon  those  con- 
ditions  he  offers,  to  wit:  that  he  shall  unarm  his  left  side, 
and  that  he  shall  lay  aside  his  shield  and  his  helm.  And  tell  him  that  by 


34  THE  CHEVALIER  OF   THE  CART 

the  time  he  hath  made  him  ready  in  that  wise,  I  will  be  down  to  give  him 
what  satisfaction  I  am  able." 

So  the  messenger  departed  upon  that  command,  and  Sir  Mellegrans 
departed  to  arm  himself  for  battle. 

Then,  after  the  messenger  had  delivered  the  message  that  Sir  Mellegrans 
had  given  him,  Sir  Launcelot  laid  aside  his  shield  and  his  helm  as  he  had 
agreed  to  do,  and  he  removed  his  armor  from  his  left  side  so  that  he  was 
altogether  unarmed  upon  that  side. 

After  a  while  Sir  Mellegrans  appeared,  clad  all  in  armor  from  top  to  toe, 
and  baring  himself  with  great  confidence,  for  he  felt  well  assured  of  victory 
in  that  encounter.  Thus  he  came  very  proudly  nigh  to  where  Sir  Launcelot 
was,  and  he  said:  "  Here  am  I,  Sir  Knight,  come  to  do  you  service  since  you 
will  have  it  so." 

Sir  Launcelot  said :  "  I  am  ready  to  meet  thee  thus  or  in  any  other  way, 
so  that  I  may  come  at  thee  at  all." 

After  that  each  knight  dressed  himself  for  combat,  and  all  those  who  were 
in  the  castle  gathered  at  the  windows  and  the  galleries  above,  and  looked 
down  upon  the  two  knights. 

Then  they  two  came  slowly  together,  and  when  they  were  pretty  nigh  to 
one  another  Sir  Launcelot  offered  his  left  side  so  as  to  allow  Sir  Mellegrans 
to  strike  at  him.  And  when  Sir  Mellegrans  perceived  this  chance,  he 
straightway  lashed  a  great  blow  at  Sir  Launcelot 's  unarmed  side  with  all 
his  might  and  main,  and  with  full  intent  to  put  an  end  to  the  battle  with 
that  one  blow. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  was  well  prepared  for  that  stroke,  wherefore  he  very 
dexterously  and  quickly  turned  himself  to  one  side  so  that  he  received  the 
blow  upon  the  side  which  was  armed,  and  at  the  same  time  he  put  aside 
a  part  of  the  blow  with  his  sword.  So  that  blow  came  to  naught. 

But  so  violent  was  the  stroke  that  Sir  Mellegrans  had  lashed  that  he  over- 
reached himself,  and  ere  he  could  recover  himself,  Sir  Launcelot  lashed  at 
Sir  Launcelot  ^m  a  grea/t  buffet  "that  struck  him  fairly  upon  the  helm.  And 
siayeth  Sir  then  again  he  lashed  at  him  ere  he  fell  and  both  this  stroke 
Mellegrans.  of  ^  swor(j  an(j  fae  other  cut  deep  through  the  helm  and 

into  the  brain  pan  of  Sir  Mellegrans,  so  that  he  fell  down  upon  the  ground 
and  lay  there  without  motion  of  any  sort.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  stood  over 
him,  and  called  to  those  who  were  near  to  come  and  look  to  their  lord,  and 
thereat  there  came  several  running.  These  lifted  Sir  Mellegrans  up  and 
removed  his  helmet  so  as  to  give  him  air  to  breathe.  And  they  looked 
upon  his  face,  and  lo!  even  then  the  spirit  was  passing  from  him,  for  he 
never  opened  his  eyes  to  look  upon  the  splendor  of  the  sun  again. 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  RESCUETH  THE  QUEEN 

«55 

Then  when  those  of  the  castle  saw  how  it  was  with  Sir  Mellegrans  and 
that  even  then  he  was  dead,  they  lifted  up  their  voices  with  great  lamen- 
tation so  that  the  entire  castle  rang  presently  with  their  outcries  and 
wailings. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out:  "This  knight  hath  brought  this  upon  him- 
self because  of  the  treason  he  hath  done;  wherefore  the  blame  is  his 
own."  And  then  he  said:  "Where  is  the  porter  of  this  castle?  Go,  fetch 
him  hither!" 

So  in  a  little  while  the  porter  came,  and  Sir  Launcelot  made  demand  of 
him:  "  Where  is  it  that  the  Queen  and  her  court  are  held  prisoners?  Bring 
me  to  them,  Sirrah?" 

Then  the  porter  of  the  castle  bowed  down  before  Sir  Launcelot  and  he 
said,  "Messire,  I  will  do  whatever  you  command  me  to  do,"  for  he  was 
overwhelmed  with  the  terror  of  Sir  Launcelot 's  wrath  as  he  had  displayed 
it  that  day.  And  the  porter  said,  "  Messire,  have  mercy  on  us  all  and  I  will 
take  you  to  the  Queen." 

So  the  porter  brought  Sir  Launcelot  to  where  the  Queen  was,  and  where 
were  those  others  with  her.     Then  all  these  gave  great  joy  and  loud  acclaim 
that  Sir  Launcelot  had  rescued  them  out  of  their  captivity.    Sir  Launcelot 
And  Queen  Guinevere  said:  "  What  said  I  to  you  awhile  since?   rescueth  the 
Did  I  not  say  that  it  mattered  not  how  Sir  Launcelot  came   Queen' 
hither  even  if  it  were  in  a  cart?     For  lo!  though  he  came  thus  humbly  and 
in  lowly  wise,  yet  he  hath  done  marvellous  deeds  of  knightly  prowess,  and 
hath  liberated  us  all  from  our  captivity." 

After  that  Sir  Launcelot  commanded  them  that  they  should  make  ready 
such  horses  as  might  be  needed.  And  he  commanded  that  they  should 
fetch  litters  for  those  knights  of  the  Queen's  court  who  had  been  wounded, 
and  all  that  was  done  as  he  commanded.  After  that  they  all  departed  from 
that  place  and  turned  their  way  toward  Camelot  and  the  court  of  the  King. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  did  not  again  see  that  damsel  Elouise  the  Fair,  for  she 
kept  herself  close  shut  in  her  own  bower  and  would  see  naught  of  any  one  be- 
cause of  the  grief  and  the  shame  of  all  that  had  passed.    At  that  Sir  Launce 
lot  took  much  sorrow,  for  he  was  greatly  grieved  that  he  should  have  brought 
any  trouble  upon  one  who  had  been  so  friendly  with  him  as  she  had  been. 
Yet  he  wist  not  how  he  could  otherwise  have  done  than  as  he  c      lo,  a 
could  think  of  naught  to  comfort  her. 

So  ends  this  adventure  of  the  Knight  of  the  Cart  with  only  this  to  say : 
that  after  that  time  there  was  much  offence  taken  that  Sir  Launce ot  had 
gone  upon  that  adventure  riding  in  a  cart.  For  many  jests  were  made  c 


36  THE  CHEVALIER   OF   THE  CART 

as  I  have  said,  and  many  of  the  King's  court  were  greatly  grieved  that  so 
unworthy  a  thing  should  have  happened. 

More  especially  were  the  kinsmen  of  Sir  Launcelot  offended  at  what  he 
His  kinsmen  ^ad  done.  Wherefore  Sir  Lionel  and  Sir  Ector  came  to  Sir 
chide  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Ector  said  to  him :  "  That  was  a  very  ill 

Launcelot.  thing  you  did  to  ride  to  that  adventure  in  a  cart.  Now 
prythee  tell  us  why  you  did  such  a  thing  as  that  when  you  might  easily 
have  got  a  fresh  horse  for  to  ride  upon  if  you  had  chosen  to  do  so." 

To  this  Sir  Launcelot  made  reply  with  much  heat :  "  I  know  not  why  you 
should  take  it  upon  you  to  meddle  in  this  affair.  For  that  which  I  did,  I  did 
of  mine  own  free  will,  and  it  matters  not  to  any  other  man.  Moreover,  I 
deem  that  it  matters  not  how  I  went  upon  that  quest  so  that  I  achieved  my 
purpose  in  a  knightly  fashion.  For  I  have  yet  to  hear  any  one  say  that  I 
behaved  in  any  way  such  as  a  true  knight  should  not  behave." 

"  For  the  matter  of  that,"  said  Sir  Ector,  "  thy  knighthood  is  sufficiently 
attested,  not  only  in  this,  but  in  many  other  affairs.  But  that  which  shames 
us  who  are  of  thy  blood,  and  they  who  are  thy  companions  at  arms,  is  that 
thou  shouldst  have  achieved  thy  quest  in  so  unknightly  a  fashion  instead 
of  with  that  dignity  befitting  a  very  worthy  undertaking.  For  dost  thou 
not  know  that  thou  art  now  called  everywhere  '  The  Chevalier  of  the  Cart  * 
and  that  songs  are  made  of  this  adventure  and  that  jests  are  made  con- 
cerning it?" 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  filled  with  great  anger,  and  he  went  to  his  inn 
and  took  his  shield  and  laced  a  sheet  of  leather  over  the  face  thereof.  There- 
Sir  Launcelot  a^er  ^e  painted  the  leather  covering  of  the  shield  a  pure  white 
covereth  his  so  that  it  might  not  be  known  what  was  the  device  thereon, 
shield.  nor  who  was  the  knight  who  bare  that  shied.  Then  after  he 

had  done  this  he  armed  himself  and  took  horse  and  rode  forth  errant  and 
alone,  betaking  his  way  he  knew  not  whither  but  suffering  his  horse  to 
wander  upon  whatsoever  path  it  choose. 

Thus  Sir  Launcelot  departed  in  anger  from  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and 
after  that,  excepting  one  time,  he  was  not  seen  in  the  court  of  the  King 
again  for  the  space  of  two  years,  during  which  time  there  was  much  sorrow 
at  the  court,  because  he  was  no  longer  there. 


PART   II 
The  Story  of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney 


now  followeth  the  history  of  S(r  Gareth  of  Orkney,  who  came  unknown 
to  the  court  of  his  uncle,  King  Arthur;  who  was  there  treated  with  great 
indignity  by  Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal;  who  was  befriended  by  his  brother,  Sir 
Gawaine,  and  who  afterward  went  errant  with  a  damsel  hight  Lynette,  meeting 
whilst  with  her  several  bel-adventures  which  shall  hereinafter  be  duly  told  of. 

So  if  you  would  know  how  it  fared  with  that  young  knight,  you  must  cease  to 
consider  the  further  adventures  of  Sir  Launcelot  at  this  place,  and  must  now 
read  of  those  other  adventures  of  this  youth,  who  was  the  youngest  son  of  King 
Lot  and  Queen  Margaise  of  Orkney.  But  after  they  are  ended,  then  shall  the 
further  history  of  the  adventures  of  Sir  Launcelot  be  considered  once  more. 


ir  Garcffy  of  OrUiwy 


Chapter  First 

How  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney  came  to  the  Castle  of  Kynkennedon 
where  King  Arthur  was  holding  court,  and  how  it  fared  with 
him  at  that  place. 

THE  youngest  son  of  King  Lot  of  Orkney  and  of  his  Queen,  who  was 
the  Lady  Margaise,  sister  of  King  Arthur,  was  a  youth  hight 
Gareth  of  Orkney.  This  young,  noble,  high-born  prince  was  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  his  royal  race,  for  not  only  was  he  exceedingly  tall  and 
stalwart  of  frame — standing  a  full  head  bigger  than  the  biggest  of  any  at  his 
father's  court — and  not  only  was  he  the  strongest  and  the  most  agile  and 
the  most  skilful  at  all  knightly  sports,  and  not  only  was  he  gentle  in  speech 
and  exceedingly  courteous  in  demeanor  to  all  with  whom  he  held  discourse, 
but  he  was  so  beautiful  of  countenance  that  I  do  not  believe  that  an  angel 
of  Paradise  could  be  more  fair  to  look  upon  than  he.  For  his  hair  was 
Of  Gareth  of  bright  and  ruddy,  shining  like  to  pure  gold,  his  cheeks  were 
Orkney.  rej  an(j  they  and  his  chin  were  covered  over  with  a  soft  and 

budding  bloom  of  beard  like  to  a  dust  of  gold  upon  his  face;  his  eyes  were 
blue  and  shining  and  his  neck  and  throat  were  round  and  white  like  to  a 
pillar  of  alabaster. 

Now  King  Lot  and  Queen  Margaise  loved  Gareth  above  any  of  their  other 


40  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

children,  and  so  it  befell  that  all  those  who  dwelt  at  the  King's  court  took 
every  occasion  to  praise  young  Gareth,  both  to  his  face  and  before  the  faces 
How  the  of  °^  t^ie  King  an(^  Queen»  his  father  and  mother.  For  these 
the  court  praise  would  sometimes  say :  "  Lo !  this  youth  sendeth  forth  such  a 
Gareth.  glory  of  royal  beauty  and  grace  and  dignity  from  him  that 

even  were  he  clad  in  fustian  instead  of  cloth  of  gold  yet  would  all  the 
world  know  him  to  be  of  royal  strain  as  plainly  as  though  he  were  clothed 
in  royal  attire  fitting  for  such  a  princely  youth  to  wear.  For,  behold! 
the  splendor  of  his  royalty  lieth  in  his  spirit  and  not  in  his  raiment,  and  so 
it  is  that  it  shineth  forth  from  his  countenance." 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  when  Gareth  was  twenty  years  of  age,  his 
mother,  Queen  Margaise,  called  him  to  her  in  her  bower  where  she  was 
with  her  maidens,  and  she  bade  him  to  sit  down  beside  her  and  he  did 
as  she  commanded,  taking  his  place  upon  a  couch  spread  with  purple 
cloth  embroidered  with  silver  lions  whereon  the  Queen  was  sitting  at 
that  time.  Then  Queen  Margaise  gazed  long  upon  her  beautiful  son, 
and  her  heart  yearned  over  him  with  pride  and  glory  because  of  his 
strength  and  grace.  And  by  and  by  she  said :  "  My  son,  now  that  thou 
hast  reached  to  the  fulness  of  thy  stature  and  girth  and  art  come  to  the 
Queen  Mar  -  threshold  °f  tny  manhood,  it  is  time  for  thee  to  win  for  thyself 
aise  bespeak-  the  glory  of  knighthood  such  as  shall  become  thee,  earning 
ct  aret  .  ^  ^  such  deeds  as  shall  be  worthy  of  the  royal  race  from 
which  thou  hast  sprung.  Accordingly,  I  would  now  have  it  that  thou 
shouldst  go  to  the  court  of  my  brother,  King  Arthur,  and  that  thou  shouldst 
there  take  thy  stand  with  that  noble  and  worthy  companionship  of  the 
Champions  of  the  Round  Table,  of  whom  thy  brothers  shine  forth  like  bright 
planets  in  the  midst  of  a  galaxy  of  stars.  So  I  would  have  it  that  thou 
shouldst  go  to  the  court  of  the  great  King,  my  brother,  a  week  from  to-day, 
and  to  that  end  I  would  have  it  that  thou  shouldst  go  in  charge  of  three  of 
the  noblest  lords  of  this  court  and  in  such  a  state  of  pomp  and  circumstance 
as  may  befit  one  who  is,  as  thou  art,  the  son  of  a  royal  father  and  mother 
and  the  nephew  of  that  great  King  who  is  the  overlord  of  this  entire 
realm." 

Thus  spake  Queen  Margaise,  and  in  accordance  with  that  saying  Gareth 
Gareth  depart-  set  ^  ortn  a  sennight  from  that  time  for  the  court  of  King 
eth  for  the  court  Arthur.  With  him  there  rode  three  very  noble  haughty  lords 
of  King  Arthur.  of  ^  CQUrt  ^  ^  Queen  had  ordained,  and  with  these  went 

esquires  and  attendants  to  the  number  of  threescore  ten  and  four.  In  the 
midst  of  that  company  young  Gareth  rode  upon  a  cream  white  horse,  and 
all  the  harness  and  furnishings  of  the  horse  upon  which  he  rode  were  of 


GARETH  DEPARTETH  FOR   THE  COURT  OF  THE  KING         41 

gold,  and  the  saddle  upon  which  he  sat  was  stamped  with  gold  and  riveted 
with  nvets  of  gold,  and  Gareth  himself  was  clad  all  in  cloth  of  gold  so 
what  with  all  of  these  and  his  fair  beautiful  face  in  the  bright  sunlight 
(the  day  being  wonderfully  clear  and  fair)  the  royal  youth  appeared  to 
shine  with  such  a  glistering  splendor  that  it  was  as  though  a  star  of  re- 
markable glory  had  fallen  from  the  heavens  and  had  found  lodgment  in  his 
person  upon  the  earth. 

So  it  was  that  the  young  Gareth  rode  forth  upon  his  way  to  the  court  of 
his  uncle,  the  King. 

That  evening,  he  and  his  company  rested  for  the  night  in  a  glade  of  the 
forest  and  there  the  attendants  set  up  a  pavilion  of  purple  silk  for  him. 
Around  about  this  pavilion  were  other  pavilions  for  those  three  lords  who 
accompanied  him  as  his  companions  in  the  journey  and  for  their  esquires 
and  attendants. 

Now  that  night  Gareth  lodged  alone  in  his  pavilion  saving  only  that  his 
dwarf,  Axatalese,  lay  within  the  tent  nigh  to  the  door  thereof.  And  it  came 
to  pass  that  Gareth  could  not  sleep  that  night  but  lay  awake,  looking  into 
the  darkness  and  thinking  of  many  things.  And  he  said  to  himself:  "  Why 
is  it  that  I  should  go  thus  in  state  to  the  court  of  the  King  and  in  that  wise 
to  win  his  especial  favor  ?  Lo !  It  were  better  that  I  should  go  as  any  other 
youth  of  birth  and  breeding  rather  than  in  this  royal  estate.  For,  if  I  am 
worthy,  as  men  say  of  me,  then  my  worth  shall  be  made  manifest  by  my 
deeds  and  not  because  of  the  state  in  which  I  travel." 

Thus  Gareth  communed  within  himself  and  he  said:  "I  will  go  to  the 
court  of  mine  uncle  the  King  as  a  simple  traveller  and  not  as  a  prince  travel- 
ling in  state." 

So  somewhat  before  the  dawning  of  the  day,  he  arose  very  softly  and  went 
to  where  the  dwarf  lay,  and  he  touched  Axatalese  upon  the  shoulder,  and  he 
said,  "Axatalese,  awake."  Thereupon  the  dwarf  awoke  and  sat  up  and 
looked  about  him  in  the  darkness  of  the  dawning,  bewildered  by  the  sleep 
that  still  beclouded  his  brain. 

Then  Gareth  said,  still  speaking  in  a  whisper:  "  Listen  to  what  I  say,  bu 
make  no  noise  lest  you  arouse  those  who  lay  around  about  us.  Anc 
Axatalese  said,  "Lord,  I  listen,  and  I  will  be  silent." 

Then  Gareth  said:  "Axatalese,  arise  and  fetch  me  hither  some  garmen 
of  plain  green  cloth,  and  aid  me  to  clothe  myself  in  those  garments.    Then 
thou  and  I  will  go  forward  alone  and  without  attendants  to  King  Ar 
court.   For  so  I  would  come  before  the  King  in  that  guise  and  ^  tra^Umg 
in  the  estate  of  a  prince  who  may  claim  his  favor  because  of  ******* 
birth.     For  I  would  have  it  that  whatsoever  good  fortune  I  win,  that  fortune 


42  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

should  come  to  me  by  mine  own  endeavor,  and  not  because  of  the  accident 
of  birth." 

Then  Axatalese  was  greatly  troubled,  and  he  said:  "Lord,  think  well 
of  what  you  do,  for,  lo!  your  mother,  the  Queen,  hath  provided  this 
escort  for  you ;  wherefore,  haply,  she  will  be  very  angry  if  you  should  do 
as  you  say,  and  should  depart  from  those  whom  she  appointed  to  accom- 
pany you." 

"  No  matter,"  quoth  Gareth;  "  let  that  be  as  it  may,  but  do  you  as  I  tell 
you  and  go  you  straightway,  very  quietly,  and  carry  out  my  commands. 
And  see  to  it  that  no  one  shall  be  disturbed  in  your  going  or  coming,  for  it  is 
my  purpose  that  we  two  shall  go  privily  away  from  this  place  and  that  no 
one  shall  be  aware  of  our  going." 

So  spake  Gareth,  and  Axatalese  was  aware  that  his  command  must  be 
obeyed.  So  the  dwarf  went  very  quietly  to  do  Gareth's  bidding,  and  anon 
he  returned  with  the  clothes  of  a  certain  one  of  the  attendants,  and  the 
clothes  were  of  plain  green  cloth,  and  Gareth  clad  himself  in  that  simple 
raiment.  Then  he  and  the  dwarf  went  forth  from  the  pavilion  and  they 
went  to  where  the  horses  were,  and  they  chose  two  of  the  horses  and  sad- 
Gareth  escapeth  ^e(^  tnem  an<^  bridled  them  with  saddles  and  harness  and  trap- 
from  his  pings  of  plain  leather,  such  as  the  least  of  the  attendants  might 

ww*><"  use — and  in  all  of  that  time  no  one  of  those  in  attendance  upon 

Gareth  was  aware  of  what  he  had  done.  Then  Gareth  and  the  dwarf  rode 
away  from  that  place  and  still  all  the  others  slept,  and  they  slept  for  a  long 
while  after. 

And  be  it  here  said  that  when  those  three  lords  who  were  in  charge  of 
Gareth  awoke  and  found  that  he  and  Axatalese  were  gone,  they  were  filled 
with  terror  and  dismay,  for  they  wist  not  why  he  was  gone  nor  whither,  and 
they  dreaded  the  anger  of  the  Queen,  Gareth's  mother.  Then  the  chief  of 
those  lords  said:  "Lo!  here  are  we  betrayed  by  this  young  prince  and  his 
dwarf.  For  he  hath  left  us  and  taken  himself  away,  we  know  not  whither, 
and  so  we  dare  not  return  to  the  court  of  Orkney  again.  For  should  we  re- 
turn without  him  they  will  assuredly  punish  us  for  suffering  him  to  depart, 
and  that  punishment  may  come  even  to  the  taking  of  our  lives." 

Then  another  of  those  lords  said :  "  Messire,  those  words  are  very  true,  so 
let  us  not  return  unto  the  court  of  Orkney,  but  let  us  escape  unto  some  other 
part  of  the  realm  where  the  wrath  of  the  King  and  Queen  may  not  reach  us." 

So  it  was  as  that  lord  said,  for  straightway  they  departed  from  that  place 
and  went  to  a  part  of  the  realm  where  neither  the  King  and  Queen  of  Orkney 
nor  King  Arthur  might  hear  of  them,  and  there  they  abode  for  that  time 
and  for  some  time  afterward. 


GARETH  COMETH   TO  KING  ARTHUR 

•  O 

Now  at  this  time  King  Arthur  was  celebrating  the  Feast  of  Pentecost 
at  the  Castle  of  Kynkennedon.  With  him  sat  all  the  great  lords  of  his  court 
and  all  the  Knights-companion  of  the  Round  Table  who  were 
not  upon  adventure  in  some  other  part  of  the  realm.  As  they 
so  sat  at  high  feast,  filling  the  hall  with  a  great  sound  of  merri-  feast- 
ment  and  good  cheer,  commingled  with  the  chanting  of  minstrels  and  the 
music  of  harps  and  viols,  there  came  one  to  where  the  King  sat,  and  he  said 
to  him :  "  Lord,  there  is  a  fellow  without  who  demandeth  to  have  speech  with 
you,  face  to  face.  Nor  know  we  what  to  do  in  this  case,  for  he  will  not  be 
gainsaid,  but  ever  maketh  that  demand  aforesaid." 

Then  King  Arthur  said :  "  Hah !  say  you  so  ?  Now  what  manner  of  man  is 
he?  Is  he  a  king  or  a  duke  or  a  high  prince  that  he  maketh  such  a  demand 
as  that?"  "  Lord,"  said  the  messenger,  "he  is  none  of  these,  but  only  a 
youth  of  twenty  years,  tall  and  very  large  of  frame  and  beautiful  of  face, 
and  very  proud  and  haughty  in  bearing.  And  he  is  clad  like  to  a  yeoman  in 
cloth  of  plain  green,  wherefore  we  know  not  what  to  think  of  that  demand 
he  maketh  to  have  speech  with  you."  King  Arthur  said,  "  What  attendants 
hath  he  with  him?"  And  the  messenger  said,  "He  hath  no  attendants  of 
any  kind,  saving  only  a  dwarf  who  followeth  after  him." 

Quoth  the  King:  "Well,  at  this  Feast  of  Pentecost  far  be  it  from  me  to 
deny  any  man  speech  with  me.  So  fetch  this  one  hither  that  we  may  see 
what  manner  of  man  he  is." 

Therewith  in  obedience  to  the  King's  command,  that  attendant  went 
forth  and  anon  he  returned,  bringing  Gareth  and  the  dwarf  Axatalese  with 
him.     And  Gareth  walked  very  proudly  and  haughtily  up  the  Gareth  cometh 
hall  and  all  who  looked  upon  him  marvelled  at  his  height  and  Wore  the  i 
his  girth  and  at  the  beauty  of  his  countenance.    And  many  said:  "  Certes, 
that  is  a  very  noble-appearing  man  to  be  clad  in  such  plain  raiment  of  green, 
for,  from  his  manner  and  his  bearing,  he  would  otherwise  appear  to  be  some 
nobleman's  son,  or  some  one  of  other  high  degree." 

So  Gareth  walked  up  the  length  of  the  hall  with  all  gazing  upon  him, 
and  so  he  came  and  stood  before  the  King  and  looked  the  King  in  th 
regarding  him  very  steadfastly  and  without  any  fear  or  awe— anc 
were  who  could  so  regard  King  Arthur.  , 

Now  Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal  stood  behind  the  Kings  seat  and  wher 
beheld  how  young  Gareth  fronted  the  King,  look  for  look  he  was  very  wroth 
at  the  demeanor  of  that  youth  who  stood  thus  before _  that  royal ^ajesty. 
So  he  spoke  aloud  before  all  those  who  sat  there  in  hall,  fV*****™^ 
"  Sirrah  who  are  you  who  darest  thus  to  stand  with  such  assurance  in  the 
presence  of  the  Great  King?  Wit  you  it  is  not  for  such  as  you  to 


44  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

before  such  majesty,  and  have  speech  with  it.  Rather  you  should  veil  your 
face  and  hang  your  head  in  that  awful  presence. " 

Then  Gareth  looked  at  Sir  Kay  very  calmly  and  he  said,  "  Who  are  you 
who  speak  such  words  to  me?"  and  all  were  amazed  at  the  haughtiness 
of  his  tones  and  voice. 

And  King  Arthur  was  also  much  astonished  that  a  youth,  clad  thus  like  a 
yeoman,  should  thus  speak  to  a  great  lord  of  the  court  such  as  Sir  Kay. 
Wherefore  the  King  wist  not  what  to  think  of  such  a  bearing.  Then  anon 
he  said :  "  Fair  youth,  whence  come  you  and  who  are  you  who  speaketh 
thus  so  boldly  to  a  great  lord  of  our  court  and  before  our  very  face? "  And 
Gareth  said :  "  Lord,  I  am  one  who  hath  come  hither  from  a  great  distance 
to  crave  two  boons  of  you." 

Quoth  the  King:  "  At  this  time,  and  at  this  Feast  of  Pentecost  I  may  not 
refuse  any  one  a  boon  who  asketh  it  of  me.  So,  if  these  two  boons  are  fit  for 
one  of  your  condition  to  have,  they  shall  be  granted  unto  you/1 

Then  Gareth  said :  "  Lord,  this  is  the  first  boon  that  I  would  ask  of  thee. 
Gareth  asketh  I  ask  not  for  knighthood  nor  for  courtly  favor.  All  that  I  ask 
his  boon.  js  that  thou  wilt  permit  me  to  dwell  here  at  court  for  a  year  and 

that  thou  wilt  provide  me  with  lodging  and  with  clothing  and  with  meat 
and  with  drink  for  that  time.  Then  at  the  end  of  a  year,  if  I  have  proved 
myself  patient  to  wait,  I  shall  crave  a  second  boon  of  thee." 

Now  many  who  were  there  heard  what  it  was  that  strange  youth  asked 
as  a  boon,  and  that  he  besought  not  knighthood  or  honor  at  the  King's 
hands,  but  bread  and  meat  and  drink  and  lodging,  wherefore  several  of  them 
laughed  a  great  deal  at  the  nature  of  that  boon.  As  for  the  King,  he  smiled 
not,  but  he  inclined  his  head  very  calmly  and  said :  "  Fair  youth  if  that  is 
all  the  boon  thou  hast  to  ask  of  us  at  this  time,  then  thou  shalt  have  thy 
will  with  all  welcome."  And  he  said:  "Kay,  see  to  it  that  this  youth  hath 
his  desires  in  these  things,  and  that  he  hath  lodging  and  clothing  and  food 
and  drink  for  an  entire  year  from  this  time." 

Then  Sir  Kay  looked  very  scornfully  upon  Gareth  and  said :  "  It  shall  be 
as  you  will.  As  for  thee,  fellow,  I  will  see  to  it  that  thou  art  fed  until  thou 
art  as  fat  as  any  porker." 

So  spake  Sir  Kay,  and  when  young  Gareth  heard  the  words  his  face  flamed 
red  with  wrath  and  the  veins  stood  out  upon  his  forehead  like  cords.  But 
he  controlled  his  anger  to  calmness  and  anon  he  said:  "Messire,  you 
do  but  hear  my  words,  knowing  nothing  of  the  purpose  that  lyeth  within 
my  mind.  Wherefore  then  do  you  scorn  me  since  you  know  naught  of  my 
purpose?" 

Then  Sir  Kay  looked  upon  the  youth  with  anger  and  he  said :  "  Sirrah, 


SIR  KAY  SCORN ETH  GARETH  45 

thou  speaketh  very  saucily  to  those  who  are  thy  betters.    Learn  to  bridle 
thy  tongue  or  otherwise  it  may  be  very  ill  with  thee." 

So  spake  Sir  Kay,  but  Gareth  answered  him  not.  Otherwise  he  turned 
to  the  King  and  bowed  low,  as  though  he  had  not  heard  the  speech  that  Sir 
Kay  had  uttered. 

Then  he  turned  and  went  away  from  the  King's  presence  with  the  dwarf 
Axatalese  following  close  after  him. 

Now  Sir  Gawaine  sat  not  far  distant  from  the  King  and  so  he  had  heard 
all  that  had  passed.  And  he  beheld  the  indignation  of  Gareth  against  Sir 
Kay,  and  the  heart  of  Sir  Gawaine  went  out  very  strongly  sir  Gawaine 
toward  this  haughty  and  beautiful  youth — albeit  he  wist  not  loveth  Gareth. 
why  it  was  that  he  felt  love  for  him,  nor  that  Gareth  was  his  own  brother. 
So  it  befell  that  after  Gareth  had  departed  from  the  King's  presence  in  that 
wise,  Sir  (jawaine  arose  and  followed  after  him ;  and  when  he  had  come  up 
with  Gareth  he  touched  him  upon  the  arm  and  said,  "  Come  with  me,  fair 
youth."  And  Gareth  did  so.  So  after  that  Sir  Gawaine  led  Gareth  to  an- 
other place,  and  when  they  were  come  thither  he  said  to  him:  "  Fair  youth, 
I  pry  thee  tell  me  who  you  are  and  whence  you  come,  and  why  it  is  that  you 
asked  such  a  boon  as  that  from  the  King's  Majesty." 

Then  Gareth  looked  upon  Sir  Gawaine  and  knowing  that  it  was  his 
brother  whom  he  gazed  upon  he  loved  him  a  very  great  deal.  Ne'theless  he 
contained  his  love  and  said:  "  Messire,  why  ask  you  me  that?  See  you  not 
from  the  raiment  I  wear  who  I  am  and  what  is  my  degree?  As  for  the  boon 
which  I  asked,  wit  you  that  I  asked  it  because  I  needed  a  roof  to  shelter  me 
and  meat  and  drink  to  sustain  my  life." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  was  astonished  at  the  pride  and  haughtiness  of  the 
youth's  reply,  wherefore  he  said:  "  Fair  youth,  I  know  not  what  to  think; 
yet  I  well  believe  it  was  not  for  the  sake  of  the  food  and  drink  and  lodging 
that  thou  didst  so  beseech  that  boon  of  the  King,  for  methinks  that  the 
art  very  different  from  what  thou  appearest  to  be.    Now  I  find  that  i 
heart  goeth  out  to  thee  with  a  very  singular  degree  of  love,  wherefore 
am  of  a  mind  to  take  thee  into  my  favor  and  to  have  thee  dwell  near 
at  mine  inn."    And  Gareth  said  to  his  brother,  "Sir,  thou  art  very  go^ 

t0s""t  was  that  after  that  time  Sir  Gawaine  took  Gareth  into  his ;  fa, ^  and 
did  many  acts  of  kindness  unto  the  youth.    And  so  Gareth  dwelt  nigh  t 
Sir  Gawaine,  and  Sir  Gawaine  instructed  him  in  theuse  of  arms,  sj,***** 
And  ever  Sir  Gawaine  was  astonished  that  the  youth  should  J*$g& 
learn  so  quickly  and  so  well  the  arts  of  chivalry  and  of  1         t- 
hood.     For  Sir  Gawaine  wist  not  that  Gareth  had  been  taught  many 


46  THE  STORY    OF  SIR   GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

these  things,  and  that  others  came  easily  to  him  by  nature,  because  of  the 
royal  and  knightly  blood  from  which  he  had  sprung. 

And  ever  in  the  same  measure  that  Sir  Gawaine  bestowed  his  favor  upon 
Gareth,  in  that  degree  Sir  Kay  scorned  him.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  when 
Sir  Kay  would  meet  Gareth  he  would  say  to  whomsoever  was  present  at 
that  time,  some  such  words  as  these:  "Lo!  you!  this  is  our  kitchen  knave 
who  had  no  spirit  to  ask  of  the  King's  Majesty  any  higher  boon  than  this, 
sir  Kay  that  he  be  allowed  to  sup  fat  broth  in  the  kitchen."  So  Sir 

scorneth  Gareth.  ]£ay  ever  called  Gareth  a  kitchen  knave,  and  so  calling  him  he 
would  maybe  say,  "  Sirrah,  get  thee  upon  the  other  side  of  me,  for  the  wind 
bloweth  toward  me  and  thou  smellest  vilely  of  the  kitchen."  And  because 
Sir  Kay  perceived  that  the  hands  of  Gareth  were  soft  and  very  white  he 
named  the  youth  "  Beaumains,"  saying,  "  Look  you  at  this  kitchen  knave, 
how  fat  and  white  are  his  hands  from  dwelling  in  lazy  idleness."  So  Gareth 
was  known  as  "  Beaumains  "  by  all  those  who  were  of  the  King's  court. 

But  when  Sir  Gawaine  heard  this  talk  of  Sir  Kay  he  remembered  him 
of  how  Sir  Percival  had  been  one  time  scorned  by  Sir  Kay  in  such  a  manner 
as  this.  And  Sir  Gawaine  said:  "Messire,  let  be,  and  torment  not  this 
youth,  lest  evil  befall  thee.  Remember  how  thou  didst  hold  Sir  Percival  in 
scorn  when  he  was  a  youth,  and  how  he  struck  thee  such  a  buffet  that  he 
nigh  broke  thy  neck." 

Then  Sir  Kay  locked  very  sourly  upon  Sir  Gawaine,  and  said,  "This  Beau- 
mains  is  not  such  as  Sir  Percival  was  when  he  was  young."  And  Sir  Ga- 
waine laughed  and  said,  "  Nevertheless,  be  thou  warned  in  season." 

So  it  was  that  Gareth  dwelt  for  a  year  at  the  King's  court,  eating  the 
meat  of  idleness.  And  many  laughed  at  him  and  made  sport  of  him  who 
would  have  paid  him  court  and  honor  had  they  known  who  he  was  and  what 
was  his  estate.  Yet  ever  Gareth  contained  himself  in  patience,  biding  his 
time  until  it  should  have  come,  and  making  no  complaint  of  the  manner  in 
which  he  was  treated. 

And  now  if  you  would  hear  how  young  Gareth  won  him  honor  and  knight- 
hood, I  pray  you  read  that  which  followeth,  for  therein  are  those  things 
told  of  at  some  length. 


fye  Damsel  Lynctte  . . 


Chapter  Second 

How  Gareth  set  forth  upon  an  adventure  with  a  young  damsel  hight 
Lynette;  how  he  fought  with  Sir  Kay,  and  how  Sir  Launcelot 
made  him  a  knight.  Also  in  this  it  is  told  of  several  other  happen- 
ings that  befell  Gareth,  called  Beaumains,  at  this  time. 

SO  passed  a  year  as  aforetold,  and  Gareth  lodged  with  the  household 
of  King  Arthur  and  had  food  and  drink  as  much  as  he  desired. 
And  in  all  that  time  Gareth  ate  his  food  and  drank  his  drink  at 
a  side  table,  for  Sir  Kay  would  not  permit  him  to  sit  at  the  same  table  with 
the  lords  and  knights  and  ladies  of  the  King's  court.     For  Sir  Kay  would 
say,  "  This  kitchen  knave  shall  not  eat  at  table  with  gentle  folk  but  at  a  side 
table  by  himself,"  and  so  Gareth  fed  at  a  table  by  himself.    And  ever  Sir 
Kay  called  Gareth  "  Beaumains  "  in  scornful  jest  and  all  the  court  called  him 
"  Beaumains  "  because  Sir  Kay  did  so. 

Now  at  the  end  of  that  year  when  the  Feast  of  Pentecost  had  come 
again,  King  Arthur  was  holding  his  court  at  Caerleon-upon-Usk,    K{ng  Arthur 
and  at  the  high  Feast  of  Pentecost  there  sat,  as  usual  at  the   sitteth  again  at 
King's  table,  the  lords  and  the  ladies  of  the  court  and  all  the   fea" 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table  who  were  not  upon  adventure  that  took  them 
elsewhither. 

As  they  so  sat  eating  and  drinking  there  came  into  the  hall  a  slender 
maiden  of  not  more  than  sixteen  years  old.     And  the  maiden  was  exceed- 
ingly beautiful,  for  her  hair  was  as  black  as  ebony  and  was  like  to  threads  of 
fine  black  silk  for  softness  and  brightness.    And  her  eyes  were  A  damsel 
as  black  as  jet  and  very  bright  and  shining,  and  her  face  was 
like  ivory  for  clearness  and  whiteness  and  her  lips  were  red  like 
to  coral  for  redness.     She  was  clad  all  in  flame-colored  satin,  embt 
ered  with  threads  of  gold  and  she  wore  a  bright  shining  chaplet  of  gold  atx 
her  brows  so  that  what  with  her  raiment  of  flame-color  and  with  her  em- 
broidery and  ornaments  of  shining  gold,  the  maiden  came  up  th< 
to  a  fiery  vision  of  beauty,  insomuch  that  all  turned  tc .behold  hen, 
passing,  and  many  stood  in  their  places  that  they  might  see  her  the  1 


So  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Thus  the  damsel  came  up  the  hall  until  she  had  reached  to  that  place 
where  King  Arthur  sat  at  the  head  of  the  feast,  and  when  she  had  come 
The  damsel  there  she  kneeled  down  and  set  her  hands  together  as  in  prayer, 
askethfora  palm  to  palm.  And  King  Arthur  looked  upon  her  and  was 
champion.  pleased  with  her  beauty,  and  he  said,  "  Damsel,  what  is  it  thou 
wouldst  have  of  us  ? "  The  damsel  said :  "  Lord,  I  would  have  the  aid  of  some 
good  worthy  knight  of  thy  court  who  should  act  as  champion  in  behalf  of 
my  sister. ' '  And  the  King  said,  "  What  ails  thy  sister  ? ' ' 

Quoth  the  damsel :  "  Lord,  my  sister  is  tormented  by  a  very  evil  disposed 
knight  who  maketh  demand  of  her  for  wife.  But  my  sister  hateth  this 
knight  and  will  have  naught  to  do  with  him,  wherefore  he  sitteth  ever  before 
her  castle  and  challengeth  whomsoever  cometh  thitherward,  and  will  not 
suffer  any  one  to  go  in  to  the  castle  or  come  out  thence  without  his  permis- 
sion. Now  I  come  hither  upon  my  sister's  behalf  to  seek  a  champion  who 
shall  liberate  her  from  this  duress." 

Then  said  the  King,  "  Who  is  thy  sister  and  who  is  this  knight  who  tor- 
menteth  her? "  To  the  which  the  damsel  made  reply:  "  I  may  not  tell  you 
my  sister's  name,  for  she  is  very  proud  and  haughty,  and  is  very  much 
ashamed  that  she  should  be  held  in  duress  by  that  knight  against  her  will. 
But  as  for  the  knight  who  tormenteth  her,  I  may  tell  you  that  he  is  hight 
the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands." 

Then  King  Arthur  said:  "  I  know  not  any  such  knight  as  that.  Is  there 
any  one  of  you  hereabouts  who  knoweth  him?"  And  Sir  Gawaine  said: 
"  Lord,  I  know  him  very  well,  for  I  met  him  one  time  in  battle  and  it  was 
such  hard  ado  for  me  to  hold  mine  own  against  him  that  even  to  this  day 
I  know  not  rightly  whether  he  was  better  than  I  or  whether  I  was  better 
than  he."  Then  King  Arthur  said:  "Fair  damsel,  that  must  be  a  very 
strong  and  powerful  knight,  since  Sir  Gawaine  speaketh  of  him  in  this 
wise.  But  touching  this  affair  of  thy  sister,  know  you  not  that  it  is  not 
likely  that  any  knight  of  renown  will  be  found  to  champion  a  lady  of 
whose  name  or  degree  he  knoweth  naught?  If  thou  wilt  tell  the  name  of 
thy  sister  and  wilt  declare  her  degree  I  doubt  not  there  are  many  good 
worthy  knights  of  this  court  any  one  of  whom  would  gladly  champion 
her  cause." 

So  spake  the  King,  but  the  damsel  only  shook  her  head  and  said,  "  Lord, 
I  may  not  tell  my  sister's  name,  for  I  am  forbidden  to  do  so." 

Then  the  King  said:  "That  is  a  pity  for  I  fear  me  thou  wilt  not  easily 
find  thee  a  champion  in  that  case."  And  he  said,  "Damsel,  what  is  thy 
name? "  And  she  said,  "  Sir,  it  is  Lynette."  ^he  King  said,  "  That  is  a  fair 
name  and  thou  art  very  fair  of  face." 


BEAUMAINS  ASKETH  HIS  SECOND  BOON  sr 

Then  the  King  looked  about  him  and  he  said :  "  Is  there  any  knight  in  this 
court  who  will  undertake  this  adventure  in  behalf  of  that  fair  lady  even 
though  she  will  not  declare  her  name  and  degree  ?  If  such  there  be  he  hath 
my  free  will  and  consent  for  to  do  so." 

So  spake  the  King,  but  no  one  immediately  answered,  for  no  one  cared 
to  take  up  such  a  quarrel  against  so  strong  a  knight,  not  knowing  for  whom 
it  was  that  that  quarrel  was  to  be  taken  up. 

Now  he  whom  all  called  Beaumains  was  at  that  time  sitting  at  his 
side  table  a  little  distance  away,  and  he  heard  all  that  passed.  Likewise  he 
observed  how  that  no  one  arose  to  assume  that  adventure  and  at  that  he  was 
very  indignant.  For  he  said  to  himself:  "This  damsel  is  very  fair,  and 
the  case  of  her  sister  is  a  very  hard  case,  and  I  wonder  that  no  good  and  well- 
approved  knight  will  take  that  adventure  upon  him." 

But  still  no  one  appeared  to  assume  that  quarrel  of  the  unknown  lady 
and  so,  at  last,  Beaumains  himself  arose  from  where  he  sat,  and  came  for- 
ward before  them  all  to  where  the  King  was,  and  at  that  time  the  damsel 
was  still  kneeling  before  the  King. 

Then  the  King  beholding  Beaumains  standing  there  said,  "  Beaumains, 
what  is  it  thou  wouldst  have  ? ' '  and  Beaumains  said :  "  Lord,  I  have  now  dwelt 
in  this  court  for  a  year  from  the  time  that  I  first  came  hither.  Gareth  asketh 
That  time  when  I  first  stood  before  thee  I  besought  two  boons  his  second  boon. 
of  thee  and  one  of  them  thou  didst  grant  me  and  the  other  thou  didst  promise 
to  grant  me.  According  to  that  first  boon,  I  had  since  that  time  had  lodg- 
ing beneath  thy  roof  and  food  and  drink  from  thy  table,  as  much  as  ever  I 
desired.  But  now  hath  come  the  time  when  I  would  fain  ask  that  other 
boon  of  thee." 

Then  King  Arthur  wondered  a  very  great  deal,  and  he  said,  "Speak, 
Beaumains,  and  ask  what  thou  wilt  and  the  boon  is  thine." 

"  Lord,"  said  Beaumains,  "  this  is  the  boon  I  would  ask.  I  beseech  thee 
that  thou  wilt  suffer  me  to  assume  this  adventure  upon  behalf  of  that  lady 
who  will  not  tell  her  name." 

Now  when  they  of  the  court  who  sat  near  to  the  King  heard  what  b 
it  was  that  the  kitchen  knave,  Beaumains,  besought  of  the  King,  a  great 
deal  of  laughter  arose  upon  all  sides,  for  it  seemed  to  all  to  be  a  very  go< 
jest  that  Beaumains  should  assume  such  an  undertaking  as  that,  whic 
knight  of  the  court  chose  to  undertake.     Only  King  Arthur  did  not  ku*j 
Otherwise  he  spake  with  great  dignity  saying:  "  Beaumains,  methinks  th 
knowest  not  what  boon  it  is  thou  hast  asked.     Ne'theless,  be  the  peril  thine. 
For  since  thou  hast  asked  that  boon,  and  since  I  have  passed  my  promise, 
I  cannot  refrain  from  granting  that  which  thou  hast  besought  of 


52  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Then  Sir  Kay  came  forward  and  he  spake  to  the  damsel,  saying,  "  Fair 
damsel,  know  you  who  this  fellow  is  who  asketh  to  be  appointed  champion 
for  to  defend  your  lady  sister? "  and  Lynette  said,  "  Nay,  I  know  not ;  but  I 
pray  you  tell  me  who  he  is." 

" I  will  do  so,"  quoth  Sir  Kay.  "Wit  you  that  this  fellow  is  a  kitchen 
knave  who  came  hither  a  year  ago  and  besought  as  a  royal  boon  from  the 
King  that  he  should  have  meat  and  drink  and  lodging.  Since  then  he  hath 
been  well  fed  every  day  at  a  table  I  have  set  aside  for  him.  So  he  hath 
grown  fat  and  proud  and  high  of  spirit  and  thinketh  himself  haply  to  be  a 
champion  worthy  to  undertake  such  an  adventure  as  that  which  he  hath 
besought  leave  to  assume." 

So  said  Sir  Kay,  and  when  the  damsel  Lynette  heard  his  words  her  face 
flamed  all  as  red  as  fire  and  she  turned  to  King  Arthur  and  said :  "  My 
The  damsel  Lord  King,  what  shame  and  indignity  is  this  that  you  would 
Lynette  is  angry,  put  upon  me  and  my  sister?  I  came  hither  beseeching  you 
for  a  champion  to  defend  my  sister  against  her  oppressor  and  instead  of  a 
champion  you  give  me  a  kitchen  knave  for  that  service." 

"  Lady,"  quoth  King  Arthur  very  calmly,  "  this  Beaumains  hath  besought 
a  boon  of  me  and  I  have  promised  him  that  favor.  Accordingly,  I  must 
needs  fulfil  my  promise  to  him.  But  this  I  tell  thee,  that  I  believe  him  to  be 
very  different  from  what  he  appeareth  to  be ;  and  I  tell  thee  that  if  he  faileth 
in  this  adventure  which  he  hath  assumed,  then  will  I  give  thee  another 
champion  that  shall  haply  be  more  to  thy  liking  than  he." 

But  Lynette  was  very  exceedingly  wroth  and  she  would  not  be  appeased 
by  the  King's  words ;  yet  she  dared  say  no  word  of  her  indignation  to  the 
King's  Majesty.  Accordingly  she  turned  and  went  away  from  that  place 
very  haughtily,  looking  neither  to  the  one  side  nor  to  the  other,  but  gazing 
straight  before  her  as  she  went  out  from  that  hall. 

Then  after  she  was  gone  Sir  Gawaine  came  and  stood  before  the  King 
and  said :  "  Messire  and  Lord,  I  have  faith  that  greater  things  shall  come  of 
this  adventure  than  any  one  hereabouts  supposeth  it  possible  to  happen. 
For  Beaumains  is  no  such  kitchen  knave  as  Sir  Kay  proclaimeth  him  to  be, 
but  something  very  different  from  that,  as  Sir  Kay  himself  shall  mayhap 
discover  some  day.  For  a  year  this  Beaumains  hath  dwelt  nigh  me  and  I 
have  seen  him  do  much  that  ye  know  not  of.  Now  I  pray  you,  Lord,  to  suffer 
me  to  purvey  him  with  armor  fit  for  this  undertaking  and  I  believe  he  will 
some  time  bring  honor  both  to  you  and  to  me — to  you  because  you  granted 
him  this  boon,  to  me  because  I  provided  him  with  armor."  Then  King 
Arthur  said  to  Sir  Gawaine,  "  Messire,  let  it  be  as  you  say." 

So  Sir  Gawaine  took  Beaumains  away  with  him  to  his  own  lodging-place 


LYNETTE  SCORNETH  BEAU  MAINS  S3 

and  here  he  provided  the  youth  with  armor.  And  he  provided  him  with 
a  shield  and  a  sword  and  a  good  stout  spear.  And  he  provided 
him  with  a  fine  horse,  such  as  a  knight  who  was  to  go  errant 
might  well  care  to  ride  upon.  Then  when  Beaumains  was  pro-  mains- 
vided  in  all  this  way,  Sir  Gawaine  wished  him  God-speed  and  Beaumains 
took  horse  and  departed  after  the  maiden  Lynette.  And  Axatalese  the 
dwarf  rode  with  Beaumains  upon  a  gray  mule,  as  his  esquire. 

Now  by  the  time  all  this  had  been  accomplished— to  wit,  the  arming  and 
horsing  of  Beaumains — Lynette  had  gone  so  far  upon  her  way  that  Beau- 
mains  and  Axatalese  were  compelled  to  ride  for  two  leagues  and  more  at  a 
very  fast  pace  ere  they  could  overtake  her. 

And  when  they  did  overtake  her  she  was  more  angry  than  ever  to  behold 
that  misshapen  dwarf  accompanying  the  kitchen  knave  who  was  her  ap- 
pointed champion.      Wherefore  when  Beaumains  had  come   L    tte 
nigh  to  her,  she  cried  out,  "Sirrah,  art  thou  Beaumains,  the   scornethBeau- 
kitchen  knave?"     And  Gareth  said,  "Aye,  I  am  he  whom   mains' 
they  call  Beaumains.'*    Then  she  cried  out  upon  him,  "  Return  thee  whence 
thou  hast  come  for  I  will  have  none  of  thee!" 

To  this  angry  address  Beaumains  replied,  speaking  very  mildly  and  with 
great  dignity :  "  Lady,  the  King  hath  appointed  me  to  ride  with  you  upon 
this  adventure,  wherefore,  with  you,  I  must  now  do  as  I  have  been  com- 
manded. For  having  embarked  in  this  affair,  I  must  needs  give  my  service 
to  you,  even  if  you  should  order  me  to  do  otherwise."  "Well,"  quoth  she, 
"  if  you  will  not  do  as  I  bid  you,  then  I  tell  you  this ;  that  I  will  straightway 
take  a  path  that  will  lead  you  into  such  dangers  as  you  have  no  thought 
of,  and  from  which  you  will  be  not  at  all  likely  to  escape  with  your  life." 

To  this  Beaumains  replied,  speaking  still  very  calmly  and  with  great 
courtesy:  "  Lady,  that  shall  be  altogether  as  you  ordain.  And  I  venture  to 
say  to  you  that  no  matter  into  what  dangers  you  may  bring  me,  still  I  have 
great  hope  that  I  shall  bring  you  out  thence  with  safety  and  so  be  of  service 
to  you  and  your  lady  sister.  Wherefore,  whithersoever  you  lead,  t 
will  I  follow  you."  . 

Then  Lynette  was  still  more  angry  that  Beaumains  should  be  so 
and  courteous  to  her  who  was  so  angry  and  uncourteous  to  him,  whereto, 
she  hardened  her  heart  toward  him  and  said :  "  Sirrah,  since  I  cannot       me 
of  you,  I  bid  you  ride  upon  the  other  side  of  the  way ,  for  methinks  you  a 
very  strongly  of  the  kitchen  in  which  you  have  dwelt. 

To  these  words  Beaumains  bowed  his  head  with  great  «£*"*•"; 
"  Lady,  it  shall  be  as  you  command."  And  therewrth  he  drew  re* Uo  the 
other  ide  of  the  highway  to  that  upon  which  she  rode.  Then  Lyn, 


54 


THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 


laughed,  and  she  said:  "  Ride  a  little  farther  behind  me,  for  still  methinks  I 
smell  the  savor  of  the  kitchen."  And  Beaumains  did  as  she  commanded 
and  withdrew  him  still  farther  away  from  her. 

Now  some  while  after  Beaumains  had  ridden  after  Lynette  as  aforetold, 
Sir  Kay  said  to  certain  of  those  who  were  nigh  him :  "  I  am  of  a  mind  to  ride 
after  our  kitchen  knave  and  to  have  a  fall  of  him,  for  it  would  be  a  very 
good  thing  to  teach  him  such  a  lesson  as  he  needs."  So  according  to  that 
Sir  Kay  follow-  saying,  Sir  Kay  went  to  his  inn  and  donned  his  armor.  And 
eth  Beaumains.  he  chose  him  a  good  stout  spear  and  he  took  horse  and  rode 
away  after  Beaumains  with  intent  to  do  as  he  had  said.  So  he  rode  at  a 
good  pace  and  for  a  long  time  and  by  and  by  he  beheld  Lynette  and  Beau- 
mains  and  the  dwarf  where  they  rode  along  the  highway  at  some  distance 
before  him.  Then  Sir  Kay  called  out  in  a  great  voice,  saying :  "  Stay,  Beau- 
mains,  turn  thou  thitherward.  For  I  am  come  to  overthrow  thee  and  to  take 
that  damsel  away  from  thee." 

Then  Lynette  turned  her  head  and  beheld  Sir  Kay  where  he  came,  and  with 
that  she  pointed  and  said :  "  Look,  thou  kitchen  knave,  yonder  cometh  a 
right  knight  in  pursuit  of  thee.  Now  haply  thou  hadst  best  flee  away  ere 
harm  befall  thee." 

But  to  this  address  Beaumains  paid  no  heed,  otherwise  he  turned  about 
his  horse  and  straightway  put  himself  into  array  for  defence.  And  as  Sir 
Kay  drew  nigh,  Beaumains  beheld  the  device  upon  his  shield  and  knew  who 
was  the  knight  who  came  thitherward  and  that  it  was  Sir  Kay  who  followed 
after  him  and  called  upon  him  to  stay. 

Then  Beaumains  remembered  him  of  all  the  many  affronts  that  Sir  Kay 
had  put  upon  him  for  all  that  year  past  and  with  that  his  anger  grew 
very  hot  within  him.  And  he  said  to  himself:  "This  is  well  met;  for 
now  my  time  hath  come.  For  either  this  is  the  day  of  satisfaction  for 
me  or  else  it  is  the  day  in  which  I  shall  lay  my  dead  body  down  beside  the 
highroad." 

Meantime  Sir  Kay  had  come  nigh,  and  rinding  that  Beaumains  had  pre- 
pared himself,  he  also  made  himself  straightway  ready  for  battle.  Then 
Lynette  drew  her  palfrey  to  one  side  of  the  way  and  to  a  place  whence  she 
might  behold  all  that  befell. 

So  when  Beaumains  and  Sir  Kay  were  in  all  ways  prepared,  each  gave 
SirKa  doeth  snout  an<^  drave  forward  very  violently  to  the  assault.  And 
battle  with  they  met  in  the  midst  of  that  course  and  in  that  encounter 

Beaumains.          ^  gpear   Qf    ^   Kay   held   and   ^   spear   Qf    Beaumains>   fce- 

cause  it  was  not  very  well  directed,  was  broken  into  several  pieces,  so  that 


BEAVMAINS  OVERTHROWETH  SIR  KAY  S5 

he  would  have  fallen  only  for  the  address  of  horsemanship  that  Sir  Gawaine 
had  taught  him  in  the  year  that  had  passed. 

But  when  Lynette  beheld  how  that  the  spear  of  Beaumains  was  broken  in 
that  wise,  and  how  that  he  was  nearly  cast  out  of  the  saddle  in  that  encounter, 
she  laughed  very  high  and  shrill.  And  she  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice  :  "  Hah! 
thou  kitchen  knave,  if  thou  showest  not  better  address  than  that,  thou  wilt 
not  be  likely  to  succeed  in  this  adventure  that  thou  hast  undertaken." 

Now  Beaumains  heard  the  high  laughter  of  Lynette  and  the  words  that  she 
called  out  to  him  and  with  that  he  was  more  angry  than  ever.  So  there- 
with he  ground  his  teeth  together,  and,  casting  aside  the  stump  of  his  spear 
which  he  still  held  in  his  hand,  he  drew  his  sword  and  made  at  Sir  Kay  with 
all  his  might  and  main.  And  he  put  aside  Sir  Kay's  defence  with  great 
violence,  and  having  done  so  he  rose  up  in  his  stirrups  and  lashed  a  blow  at 
Sir  Kay  that  fell  upon  his  helm  like  to  a  bolt  of  lightning.  For  in  that  one 
blow  Beaumains  lashed  forth  all  his  rage  and  the  indignation  of  a  whole  year 
of  the  scorn  of  Sir  Kay.  And  he  launched  forth  all  the  anger  that  he  felt 
against  the  damsel  Lynette  who  had  also  scorned  him. 

So  fierce  and  terrible  was  that  blow  he  struck  that  I  misdoubt  that  any 
knight  in  all  the  world  could  have  stood  against  it,  far  less  could  Sir  Kay 
stand  against  it.  For  straightway  upon  receiving  that  stroke  Beaumains 


the  senses  of  Sir  Kay  scattered  all  abroad  and  darkness  fell 

roaring  upon  his  sight  and  he  fell  down  from  off  his  horse  and 

lay  there  upon  the  ground  as  though  he  was  dead.    Then  Beaumains  stood 

above  him  smiling  very  grimly.    And  he  said,  "  Well,  Sir  Kay,  how  like  you 

that  blow  from  the  hands  of  the  kitchen  knave?  "  but  Sir  Kay  answered  him 

not  one  word  as  you  may  suppose. 

Therewith,  having  so  spoken,  Beaumains  dismounted  from  his  horse  anc 
he  called  the  dwarf  Axatalese  to  him  and  he  said:  "Axatalese,  dismoun 
from  thy  mule  and  tie  it  to  yonder  bush  and  take  thou  the  horse  of 
knight  and  mount  upon  it  instead."    And  Axatalese  did  as  his  master  con 
manded.     And  Beaumains  said  to  Sir  Kay  when  he  still  lay  in  his  swoon 
"  Sir  Knight,  I  will  borrow  of  you  your  spear,  since  I  now  have  none  of  m* 
own,"  and  therewith  he  took  the  spear  of  Sir  Kay  into  his  ;  hand     And 
took  the  shield  of  Sir  Kay  and  hung  it  upon  the  pommel  of  the  saddk 
horse  of  Sir  Kay  that  he  had  given  to  Axatalese,  and  after  that  1 
his  own  horse  and  rode  away  from  that  place,  leaving  Sir  Kay  lying  wh 
was  in  the  middle  of  the  way.  ,  «      •    <,:ipnce 

And  Lynette  also  rode  away  and  ever  Beaurnains  t^£*°*fi£ 
So  they  rode  for  a  while  and  then  at  last  and  by  aadbythjj  am*  al  feU 
alaughlng  in  great  measure.  And  she  turned  her  to  Beaumams, 


56  THE  STORY   OF  SIR   GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

"Sirrah,  thou  kitchen  knave,  dost  thou  take  pride  to  thyself?"  and  Beau- 
mains  said,  "Nay,  Lady."  She  said:  "See  that  thou  takest  no  pride,  for 
thou  didst  but  overcome  that  knight  by  the  force  of  thy  youth  and  strength, 
whilst  he  broke  thy  spear  and  wellnigh  cast  thee  out  of  thy  saddle  because 
of  his  greater  skill." 

Then  Beaumains  bowed  his  head  and  said,  "  Lady,  that  may  very  well  be." 
At  that  Lynette  laughed  again,  and  she  said,  "Sirrah,  thou  art  forgetting 
thyself  and  thou  ridest  too  near  to  me.  Now  I  bid  thee  ride  farther  away 
so  that  I  may  not  smell  the  savor  of  the  kitchen,"  and  Beaumains  said, 
"As  you  command,  so  it  shall  be,"  and  therewith  he  drew  rein  to  a  little 
greater  distance. 

And  here  it  may  be  told  of  Sir  Kay  that  some  while  after  Beaumains  had 
gone  he  bestirred  himself  and  arose  and  looked  about  him,  and  for  some 
while  he  knew  not  what  had  befallen  him  nor  where  he  was.  Then  anon  he 
remembered  and  he  wist  that  he  had  suffered  great  shame  and  humiliation 
at  the  hands  of  Beaumains  the  kitchen  knave.  And  he  saw  that  in  that 
encounter  he  had  lost  his  shield  and  his  spear  and  his  horse  and  that  naught 
was  left  for  him  to  ride  upon  saving  only  that  poor  gray  mule  upon  which 
the  dwarf  of  Beaumains  had  been  riding. 

Then  Sir  Kay  wist  not  what  to  do,  but  there  was  naught  else  left  for  him 
bu'c  to  mount  that  mule  and  ride  back  again  whence  he  had  come.  So  he  did 
Sir  Kay  re-  anc^  w^en  ^e  reached  the  King's  court  there  was  such  laughing 
turneth  to  court,  and  jesting  concerning  his  adventure  that  he  scarce  dared  to  lift 
his  voice  in  speech  or  to  raise  his  face  in  the  court  for  a  week 
from  that  time.  But  Sir  Gawaine  made  no  speech  nor  jest  of  the  mishap 
that  Sir  Kay  had  suffered,  only  he  smiled  very  grimly  and  said,  "  Sir,  you 
would  have  done  well  to  have  hearkened  to  what  I  said  to  you,"  and  Sir 
Kay,  though  at  most  times  he  had  bitter  speech  enough  and  to  spare,  had 
naught  whatever  to  say  to  Sir  Gawaine  in  reply. 

And  now  we  turn  again  to  Beaumains  and  Lynette  as  they  rode  onward 
upon  their  way  as  aforetold. 

For  after  that  last  speech  of  Lynette 's,  they  went  onward  in  silence,  and 
ever  Lynette  looked  this  way  and  that  as  though  she  wist  not  that  any  such 
man  as  Beaumains  was  within  the  space  of  a  league  of  that  place.  So 
travelling  they  came,  toward  the  sloping  of  the  afternoon,  to  a  place  nigh  to 
the  edge  of  a  woodland  where  was  a  smooth  and  level  space  of  grass  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  but  one  by  the  trees  of  the  forest.  Here  they  beheld  a 
knight  who  was  just  come  out  of  the  forest,  and  he  was  clad  all  in  white 


BEAUMAINS  ENCOUNTERETH  THE  WHITE  KNIGHT 

armor  and  he  rode  upon  a  white  horse.    And  the  sun  was  shining  so  far 
aslant  at  that  time  that  the  light  thereof  was  very  red,  like  to  P4 1  d 
And  the  beams  of  the  sun  fell  upon  the  skirts  of  the  forest  so 
that  all  the  thick  foliage  of  the  woodland  was  entirely  bathed  in    The.y  ***?« a 
that  golden  light.    And  the  same  light  flashed  upon  the  pol-   "*****• 
ished  armor  of  the  knight  and  shone  here  and  there  very  gloriously  as 
though  several, stars  of  singular  radiance  had  fallen  from  heaven  and  had 
catched  upon  that  lonely  knight-rider,  who  drew  rein  at  their  approach 
and  so  sat  watching  their  coming. 

Then  Lynette  turned  to  Beaumains  and  she  said:  "Sir  kitchen  knave, 
look  you !  yonder  is  a  right  knight  with  whom  you  may  hardly  hope  to  have 
ado.  Now  turn  you  about  and  get  you  gone  while  there  is  yet  time,  other- 
wise you  may  suffer  harm  at  his  hands." 

To  this  Beaumains  made  no  reply ;  otherwise,  he  rode  forward  very  calmly 
and  when  he  had  come  pretty  nigh  he  bespoke  that  single  knight  in  a  loud 
clear  voice,  saying,  "  Sir  Knight,  I  pray  you  do  me  battle." 

At  this  address  that  knight  aforesaid  was  very  much  astonished,  and  he 
said :  "  Sir,  what  offence  have  I  done  to  you  that  you  should  claim  battle  of 
me  in  so  curt  a  fashion?  Gladly  will  I  give  you  your  will,  but  wit  you  not 
that  all  courtesy  is  due  from  one  knight  to  another  upon  such  an  occasion? " 

To  this  Beaumains  made  no  reply,  but  turning  his  horse  about  he  rode 
to  a  little  distance  and  there  made  him  ready  for  the  encounter  that  was 
about  to  befall.  For  at  that  time  his  heart  was  so  full  of  anger  at  the  scorn 
of  Lynette  that  he  could  not  trust  himself  with  speech,  and  indeed  I  verily 
believe  that  he  knew  not  very  well  where  he  was  or  what  he  did. 

Meantime  the  White  Knight  had  also  put  himself  into  array  for  battle 
and  when  all  was  prepared  they  immediately  launched  the  one  against  the 
other  with  such  violence  that  the  ground  trembled  and  shook  beneath 
their  charge. 

So  they  met  with  great  crashing  and  uproar  in  the  midst  of  the  course 
and  111  that  meeting  the  spear  of  Beaumains  was  broken  into  a  great  many 
pieces  and  he  himself  was  cast  out  of  his  saddle  and  down  to  the  ground  with 
such  violence  that  he  was  for  a  little  while  altogether  stunned  by  the  force 
of  his  fall. 

Then  Lynette  laughed  so  high  and  so  shrill  that  Beaumains  heard  h< 
even  in  the  midst  of  his  swoon,  and  with  that  his  spirit  came  back  to  hm 
again  and  straightway  he  leaped  up  to  his  feet  and  drew  his  sword.    Anc 
cried  out  to  the  White  Knight:  "  Sir  Knight,  come  down  from  off  thy  he 
and  do  battle  with  me  afoot,  for  never  will  I  be  satisfied  with  this  mis 
that  I  have  suffered." 


58  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

* 

Then  the  White  Knight  said :  "  Messire,  how  is  this  ?  I  have  no  such  cause 
of  battle  with  you  as  that."  But  all  the  more  Beaumains  cried  out  with 
great  vehemence,  "  Descend,  Sir  Knight,  descend  and  fight  me  afoot." 

"Well,"  quoth  the  White  Knight,  "since  you  will  have  it  so,  so  it  shall 
be." 

Thereupon  he  voided  his  horse  and  drew  his  sword  and  straightway  set- 
ting his  shield  before  him,  he  came  forward  to  the  assault  of  Beaumains. 
Beaumains  Then  immediately  they  met  together,  each  lashing  very  fiercely 
iSwff91*  at  the  other,  and  so  that  battle  began.  And  so  it  continued, 
Knight.  each  foining  and  tracing  this  way  and  that  like  two  wild  bulls 

at  battle,  but  ever  lashing  stroke  upon  stroke  at  one  another.  Soon  the 
armor  of  each  was  stained  in  places  with  red,  for  each  had  suffered  some 
wound  or  hurt  at  this  place  or  at  that.  Yet  ever  Beaumains  fought  with 
might  and  main,  for  he  was  so  strengthened  by  his  passion  of  rage  that  rather 
would  he  have  died  than  yield  in  that  battle. 

So  they  fought  with  astounding  fierceness  for  a  considerable  while,  and 
then,  at  last,  the  White  Knight  called  out,  "Sir,  I  pray  you  stay  this  battle 
for  a  little,"  and  with  that  Beaumains  ceased  his  lashing  and  stood  leaning 
upon  his  sword,  panting  for  breath. 

And  the  White  Champion  also  leaned  upon  his  sword  and  panted,  and 
anon  he  said,  "  Sir,  I  pray  you  tell  me  your  name.  For  I  make  my  vow  to 
you  that  never  have  I  met  any  knight  who  hath  fought  a  greater  battle  than 
you  have  fought  this  day — and  yet  I  may  tell  you  that  I  have  fought  with 
a  great  many  of  the  very  best  knights  of  this  realm." 

"Messire,"  quoth  Beaumains,  "I  may  not  declare  my  name  at  this 
present,  for  there  are  several  good  reasons  why  I  will  not  do  so.  But  though 
I  may  not  do  as  you  demand  of  me,  nevertheless  I  beseech  you  that  you 
will  extend  that  favor  unto  me  and  will  declare  to  me  your  name  and 
your  degree." 

"Well,"  said  the  White  Knight,  "never  yet  have  I  refused  that  courtesy 
to  any  one  who  hath  asked  it  of  me.  Wit  ye  then  that  I  am  called  Sir 
Launcelot  of  the  Lake." 

Now  when  Beaumains  heard  this  that  the  White  Knight  said  and  when 
he  wist  that  it  was  none  other  than  Sir  Launcelot  against  whom  he  had  been 
fighting  for  that  while,  he  was  filled  with  great  wonder  and  astonishment 
and  a  sort  of  fear.  So  straightway  he  flung  aside  his  sword  and  he  kneeled 
Beaumains  down  before  Sir  Launcelot  and  set  his  palms  together.  And  he 
knoTveth  said:  "Messire,  what  have  I  done,  to  do  battle  against  you? 

Sir  Launcelot.  Rat^er  wollld  I  have  done  battle  against  mine  own  brother 
than  against  you.  Know  you  that  you  are  the  man  of  all  others  whom  I 


BEAU  MAINS   YIELDETH   TO   THE  WHITE  KNIGHT  59 

most  revere  and  admire.  Now  I  pray  you,  Messire,  if  I  have  done  well  in 
your  sight  in  this  battle  which  I  have  fought,  that  you  grant  me  a  boon  that 
I  have  to  ask  of  you  and  of  no  other  man." 

Quoth  Sir  Launcelot:  "  What  boon  is  it  thou  wouldst  have?  Ask  it  and 
if  it  is  meet  that  I  grant  it  to  thee,  then  assuredly  it  shall  be  thine.  As  for 
that  battle  which  thou  hast  done,  let  me  tell  thee  of  a  truth  that  I  believe 
that  I  have  never  before  met  a  stronger  or  a  more  worthy  champion  than 
thou  art.  So  now  I  prithee  ask  thy  boon  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure 
of  granting  it  to  thee." 

Then  Beaumains  said:  "  Sir,  it  is  this.  Wit  you  that  I  am  not  yet  made 
knight,  but  am  no  more  than  a  bachelor  at  arms.  So  if  you  think  that  I  am 
not  unworthy  of  that  honor,  I  pray  you  make  me  a  knight  at  this  present 
and  with  your  own  hand." 

"  Sir,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  that  may  not  be  until  I  know  thy  name  and  of 
what  degree  and  worthiness  thou  art.  For  it  is  not  allowed  for  a  knight  to 
make  a  knight  of  another  man  until  first  he  is  well  assured  of  that  other's 
degree  and  estate,  no  matter  what  deed  of  arms  that  other  may  have  done. 
But  if  thou  wilt  tell  me  thy  name  and  thy  degree,  then  I  doubt  not  that  I 
shall  be  rejoiced  to  make  a  knight  of  thee." 

Unto  this  Beaumains  said,  "  Sir,  I  will  tell  you  my  name  and  degree  if 
so  be  I  may  whisper  it  in  your  ear."  And  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Tell  it  to 
me  as  you  list  and  in  such  manner  as  may  be  pleasing  to  you."  So  Beau- 
mains  set  his  lips  to  Sir  Launcelot's  ear  and  he  told  him  his  name  and  his 
degree.  And  he  told  Sir  Launcelot  many  things  that  had  befallen  him 
of  late,  and  Sir  Launcelot  was  astonished  beyond  measure  at  all  that 
he  heard.  Then  when  Beaumains  had  told  all  these  several  things, 
Sir  Launcelot  said:  "Messire,  I  wonder  no  more  that  you  should  have 
done  so  great  battle  as  you  did  against  me,  seeing  what  blood  you  have 
in  your  veins  and  of  what  royal  race  you  are  sprung.  Gladly  will  I  make 
you  knight,  for  I  believe  in  time  you  will  surpass  even  your  own  brothers 
in  glory  of  knighthood,  wherefore  I  shall  have  great  credit  in  having  made 
you  a  knight." 

Therewith  Sir  Launcelot  took  his  sword  in  his  hand,  and  Beaumains 
kneeled.     And  Sir  Launcelot  laid  the  blade  thereof  upon  the  should 
Beaumains  and  so  made  him  knight  by  accolade.    And  he  said, 
"  Rise,  Sir  Gareth ! "  and  Sir  Gareth  arose  and  stood  upon  hisfeet, 
and  his  heart  was  so  expanded  with  joy  that  it  appeared  to  him 

that  he  had  the  strength  of  ten  men  rather  than  one  man  in  his  single  bod 
Now  the  damsel  Lynette  had  been  observing  all  this  from  afar,  and  rot 
that  distance  she  could  hear  naught  of  what  one  champion  said  to  the  oth 


6o  THE   STORY   OF  SIR   GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

and  she  beheld  what  they  did  with  very  great  wonderment  and  perplexity. 
Anon  came  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Gareth  to  where  she  was,  and  when  they 
were  come  near  she  said  to  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Know  you,  Messire,  who  is  this 
with  whom  you  walk?"  And  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Yea,  damsel,  methinks 
I  should  know  him."  Lynette  said:  "  I  believe  that  you  do  not  know  him, 
for  I  am  well  assured  that  he  is  a  kitchen  knave  of  King  Arthur's  court. 
He  hath  followed  me  hither  against  my  will,  clad  in  armor  which  I  believe 
he  hath  no  entitlement  to  wear,  and  I  cannot  drive  him  from  me." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  laughed  and  he  said :  "  Damsel,  you  know  not  what 
you  say.  Peace !  Be  still,  or  else  you  will  bring  shame  upon  yourself. " 

Then  Lynette  regarded  Sir  Launcelot  for  a  while  very  seriously  and  anon 
she  said,  "Messire,  I  pray  you  tell  me  who  you  are  who  take  me  thus  to 
task."  And  at  that  Sir  Launcelot  laughed  again  and  said:  "  Damsel,  I  will 
not  tell  you  my  name,  but  mayhap  if  you  ask  my  name  of  this  worthy  gen- 
tleman who  is  with  you,  he  will  tell  you  what  it  is." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  him  to  Sir  Gareth  and  he  said :  "  Friend,  here  I 
must  leave  you,  for  I  have  business  that  taketh  me  in  another  direction. 

Sir  Launcelot  ^°  ^oc*  save  you  an(^  ^are  you  we^  unt^  we  snall  meet  again. 
leaveth  Sir  And  if  you  will  keep  upon  yonder  path  and  follow  it,  it  will 
bring  you  by  and  by  to  a  fair  priory  of  the  forest,  and  there 
you  and  your  damsel  may  have  lodging  for  the  night." 

Thereupon  Sir  Launcelot  bowed  in  courtesy  both  to  Sir  Gareth  and  to  the 
damsel  Lynette  and  so  took  his  departure,  wending  his  way  whither  he  was 
minded  to  go  and  so  in  a  little  was  lost  to  sight. 

Then  Lynette  and  Sir  Gareth  and  the  dwarf  also  went  their  way,  taking 
that  path  that  led  to  the  priory  of  which  Sir  Launcelot  had  spoken;  and 
there  they  found  lodgment  for  the  night — the  damsel  at  one  place,  Sir  Gareth 
at  another. 

And  now  if  you  would  hear  more  concerning  Sir  Gareth  and  Lynette  and 
of  what  befell  them,  I  pray  you  read  further,  for  these  things  shall  there  be 
duly  set  forth  for  your  entertainment. 


ir  G  areflj  boeft)  Battle 


:         Chapter  Third 

How  Sir  Gareth  and  Lynette  travelled  farther  upon  their  way;  how 
Sir  Gareth  won  the  pass  of  the  river  against  two  strong  knights, 
and  how  he  overcame  the  Black  Knight  of  the  Black  Lands.  Also 
how  he  saved  a  good  worthy  knight  from  six  thieves  who  held  him 
in  duress. 

NOW  when  the  next  morning  had  come,  all  bright  and  dewy  and  very 
clear  like  to  crystal,  Lynette  arose  and  departed  from  that  forest 
priory  where  she  had  lodged  overnight,  giving  no  news  to  Sir 
Gareth  of  her  going.     And  at  that  time  the  birds  were  singing  everywhere 
with  might  and  main.     Everywhere  the  May  was  abloom,  the  apple  or- 
chards were  fragrant  with  blossoms,  and  field  and  meadow-land  were  spread 
thick  with  a  variegated  carpet  of  pretty  wild  flowers  of  divers  colors,  very 
fair  to  see. 

So  Lynette  rode  alone,  all  through  the  dewy  morn,  amid  these  fair 
meadow-lands  and  orchards  belonging  to  the  priory,  making  her  way  toward 
the  dark  and  shady  belt  of  forest  that  surrounded  those  smooth  and  verdant 
fields  upon  all  sides.  And  ever  she  gazed  behind  her  very  slyly,  but  beheld 
no  one  immediately  following  after  her. 

For  it  was  some  while  ere  Sir  Gareth  arose  from  his  couch  to  find  the 
damsel  gone.  And  when  he  did  arise  he  was  vexed  beyond  measure  that 
she  had  departed.  So  he  donned  his  armor  in  all  haste  and  as  soon  as  might 
be  he  followed  hard  after  her,  galloping  his  horse  very  violently  through 
those  fair  and  blooming  meadows  aforesaid,  with  the  dwarf  Axatalese  fol- 
lowing fast  after  him  upon  Sir  Kay's  war-horse. 

So  Sir  Gareth  made  all  speed,  and  by  and  by  he  perceived  the  dam* 
where  she  was,  and  at  that  time  she  was  just  entering  into  the  forest  shad 
So  he  drove  forward  still  more  rapidly  and  anon  he  came  up   sirGareth 
with  her  and  thereupon  he  saluted  and  said,  "  Save  you,  Lady !      AJjJ*^ 
Upon  that  salutation  Lynette  looked  about,  as  though  in 
-surprise,  and  said,  "Hah,  thou  kitchen  knave,  art  thou  there? 


64  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Gareth  said,  "Yea,  Lady."  And  Lynette  said:  "Methought  thou  hadst 
enough  of  adventure  yestereve  when  that  same  White  Knight  rolled  thee 
down  into  the  dust  and  beat  thee  in  a  fair  fight  afterward."  Sir  Gareth 
said,  "  Lady,  thou  speakest  bitter  words  to  me!"  and  Lynette  laughed,  and 
she  said :  "  Well,  Sir  Knave,  it  seems  that  I  cannot  speak  words  that  are  so 
bitter  as  to  prevent  thee  from  following  after  me  for  I  see  that  I  am  not 
to  be  free  from  thee  in  spite  of  my  will  to  that  end."  And  then  she  said: 
"  Now  I  bid  thee  to  ride  a  little  farther  away  from  me,  for  even  yet  thou 
savorest  very  strongly  of  the  kitchen,  and  the  savor  thereof  spoileth  the  fair 
savor  of  the  morning." 

So  spake  Lynette,  and  thereupon  Sir  Gareth  drew  rein  a  little  farther, 
and  so  followed  after  her  some  distance  away  as  he  had  done  the  day  be- 
fore. 

After  that  they  went  a  considerable  ways  in  silence,  and  then  by  and  by 
Lynette  turned  her  head  toward  Sir  Gareth  and  spake,  saying :  "  Sirrah, 
knowest  thou  whither  this  path  upon  which  we  travel  will  lead 
SvrGarefoof  us? "  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Nay,  Lady,  I  know  not."  "  Alas 
for  thee>"  °luotn  Lynette,  "for  I  am  to  tell  thee  that  this  path 
leadeth  toward  a  certain  ford  of  a  river,  which  same  ford  is 
guarded  by  two  strong  and  powerful  knights  who  are  brothers.  Of  these 
two  knights  I  heard  yesternight  at  the  priory  that  they  are  very  savage 
robbers,  and  that,  of  those  who  would  pass  the  ford  of  the  river,  some  they 
slay  and  others  they  rob  or  else  make  captive  for  the  sake  of  ransom.  Now 
I  am  making  my  way  toward  that  place  where  are  these  two  knights  in  the 
belief  that  they  may  rid  me  of  thee.  So  be  thou  advised  whilst  there  is  yet 
time ;  withdraw  thee  from  this  adventure  and  return  whither  thou  hast  come, 
or  else,  mayhap,  a  very  great  deal  of  harm  may  befall  thee." 

"Lady,"  quoth  Sir  Gareth,  "were  there  twenty  knights  instead  of  two 
at  that  ford  and  were  each  of  those  twenty  ten  times  as  strong  as  either  of 
the  two  are  likely  to  be,  yet  would  I  follow  after  thee  to  the  end  of  this  ad- 
venture. Mayhap  it  may  be  my  good  fortune  to  rid  the  world  of  these  two 
evil  knights." 

Then  Lynette  lifted  up  her  eyes  toward  Heaven.  "Alas,"  quoth  she, 
"  I  see  that  never  will  I  be  rid  of  this  kitchen  knave  until  all  the  pride  is 
beaten  out  of  his  body. ' '  And  after  that  they  rode  their  w\ r  without  saying 
anything  more  at  that  time. 

Anon,  and  when  the  sun  had  risen  pretty  high  toward  the  middle  of  the 
morning,  they  came  out  of  the  forest  and  into  a  fair  open  plain  of  consid- 
erable extent.  Here  Sir  Gareth  perceived  that  there  was  a  smooth  wide 
river  that  flowed  down  through  the  midst  of  the  plain.  And  he  perceived 


SIR  GARETH  CHALLENGES  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  FORD       6S 

that  the  road  ran  toward  the  river  and  crossed  it  by  a  shallow  gravelly  ford 
And  he  perceived  that  upon  the  other  side  of  the  river  was  a  tall  mm  -  nd 
very  forbidding  castle  that  stood  on  high  and  overlooked  the  ford  and  so 
he  wist  that  this  must  be  the  ford  guarded  by  those  two  knights  of  whom 
Lynette  had  spoken. 

So  as  they  drew  nearer  to  the  ford,  Sir  Gareth  beheld  a  pillar  of  stone 
beside  the  way,  and  he  saw  that  a  great  bugle  horn  of  brass  was  chained 
fast  to  this  pillar.  Then  Lynette  pointed  to  the  bugle  horn  and  she  said- 
"  Sir  Kitchen  Knave,  seest  thou  yon  bugle  horn?  Thou  had  best  not  blow 
upon  that  horn  for  if  thou  dost  thou  will  arouse  those  two  knights  who 
guard  this  ford  and  they  will  come  forth  from  the  castle  and  it  will  certes  fare 
very  ill  with  thee." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Say  you  so,  Lady  ? "    Therewith  he  went  straight 
to  where  the  horn  hung  by  its  chain,  and  he  seized  it  in  both  hands  and 
blew  upon  it  so  violently  that  it  was  as  though  the  brazen  horn   Sir  Gargth 
would  be  burst  with  his  blowing.     For  the  sound  thereof  flew   chaiie^geththe 
far  and  wide,  and  came  echoing  back  from  the  distant  walls   robber  ******** 
of  the  castle  as  though  the  trump  of  doom  had  been  sounded  in  those  parts. 

Therewith,  and  after  a  little  while,  the  portcullis  of  the  castle  was  up- 
lifted and  the  drawbridge  let  fall  and  there  issued  forth  two  knights  very 
large  and  stout  of  frame  and  very  forbidding  of  appearance.  These  two 
knights  rode  down  toward  the  ford  and  when  they  had  come  nigh  to  it  he 
who  was  the  bigger  of  the  two  drave  down  to  the  edge  of  the  water  and 
called  across  to  Sir  Gareth,  "  Who  are  you  who  dareth  to  blow  so  loudly  upon 
our  bugle  horn?"  And  to  him  Sir  Gareth  replied:  "Sir,  I  blew  upon 
that  horn  to  let  you  know  that  I  was  here  and  that  I  come  with  intent  to 
rid  the  world  of  you,  if  so  be  God  shall  be  with  me  in  mine  endeavor." 

At  that  the  knight  upon  the  other  bank  was  so  enraged  that  he  cast  aside 
his  spear  and  drew  his  sword  and  drave  straightway  into  the  waters  of  the 
ford,  splashing  with  a  noise  like  to  thunder.  And  Sir  Gareth  also  cast  aside 
his  spear  and  drew  his  sword  and  drave  into  the  ford  with  great  violence. 

So  they  met  in  the  midst  of  the  river  and  the  knight  of  the  ford  lashed  at 
Sir  Gareth  a  most  terrible  and  vehement  blow,  which  stroke  Sir  Gareth  put 
aside  with  great  skill  so  that  it  harmed  him  not.     Then  Sir   sirGareth 
Gareth  upon  hip  part  lifted  himself  on  high  and  lashed  at  the   mdmrik 
knight  so  woful  and  terrible  a  blow  that  his  horse  tottered   gj^  < 
under  the  stroke  and  the  knight  himself  catched  at  the  pom- 
mel of  his  saddle  to  save  himself  from  falling.    Then  Sir  Gareth  lashed 
him  another  stroke  and  with  that  the  knight  swooned  away  i 
ness  and  fell  out  of  his  saddle  and  into  the  water.      And  the  nver  wh< 


66  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

he  fell  was  very  deep  so  that  when  he  sank  beneath  the  water  he  did  not 
rise  again,  although  Sir  Gareth  waited  some  while  for  him  to  do  so. 

Then  Sir  Gareth,  perceiving  how  that  he  had  finished  this  enemy,  drave 
his  horse  very  violently  across  the  ford,  and  to  the  farther  bank,  and  the 
knight  who  was  there  upon  that  side  of  the  river  drave  down  against  Sir 
Gareth  with  his  spear  in  rest  with  intent  to  thrust  him  through  the  body. 
But  Sir  Gareth  was  aware  of  his  coming  and  so  when  the  knight  of  the  river 
was  immediately  upon  him,  he  put  aside  the  point  of  the  spear  with  his  shield 
with  great  skill  and  address.  Then  he  rode  up  the  length  of  the  spear  and 
when  he  had  come  nigh  enough  he  rose  up  in  his  stirrup  and  lashed  at  the 
knight  of  the  river  so  dreadful  deadly  a  blow  that  nor  shield  nor  helm  could 
withstand  that  stroke.  For  the  sword  of  Sir  Gareth  clave 
overthroweth  through  the  shield  of  the  knight,  and  it  clave  through  the  helm 
anc^  ^eeP  *nto  k*s  brain-pan.  And  with  that  the  knight  of  the 
river  fell  headlong  from  his  saddle  and  lay  upon  the  ground 
without  life  or  motion  wherewith  to  rise  again.  Then  Sir  Gareth  leaped 
very  nimbly  out  of  his  saddle  and  ran  to  him  to  finish  the  work  that  he  had 
begun.  And  Sir  Gareth  plucked  away  the  helm  of  the  knight  and  looked 
into  his  face  and  therewith  beheld  that  his  work  was  very  well  done,  for 
already  that  fallen  knight  was  in  the  act  of  yielding  up  the  ghost. 

Then  Sir  Gareth  wiped  his  sword  and  drave  it  back  again  into  its  sheath ; 
and  he  remounted  his  horse  and  rode  very  quietly  back  to  where  the 
damsel  waited  for  him  upon  the  farther  bank.  And  the  damsel  looked  at 
Sir  Gareth  very  strangely  but  Sir  Gareth  regarded  her  not  at  all. 

So  Sir  Gareth  brought  Lynette  safely  across  the  ford  and  afterward  they 
rode  on  their  way  as  they  had  aforetime  done — the  damsel  in  the  lead  and 
Sir  Gareth  and  Axatalese  following  after  at  a  distance. 

So  after  they  had  ridden  a  long  while  the  damsel  turned  her  about  in  the 
saddle  and  looked  at  Sir  Gareth  and  she  said,  "'Hah,  Beaumains,  dost  thou 
Lynette  mock-  ta^e  Pr^e  'm  what  thou  hast  done?"  And  Sir  Gareth  said, 
eth  at  Sir  "  Nay,  Lady ;  God  forbid  that  I  should  take  pride  in  any  such 

thing  as  that. ' '  Quoth  Lynette :  "  I  am  glad  that  thou  dost  not 
take  pride  in  it ;  for  I  beheld  thy  battle  from  afar  and  I  saw  how  fortune  fa- 
vored thee.  For  the  first  of  those  two  knights,  his  horse  stumbled  in  the 
river  and  so  he  fell  into  the  water  and  was  drowned ;  and  thou  didst  strike 
the  second  knight  with  thy  sword  ere  he  was  well  prepared  for  his  defence 
and  so  thou  wert  able  to  slay  him." 

"  Lady,"  quoth  Sir  Gareth  very  calmly,  "  that  which  thou  sayest  doth  not 
in  anywise  change  the  circumstances  of  what  I  did.  For  now  my  work  is  done 
and  so  I  leave  it  to  God  His  mercy  to  judge  whether  I  did  that  thing  well  or 


SIR  GARETH  MEETETH  SIR  PERARD 
whether  I  did  it  ill."     "Hah,"  said  Lynette,  "meseemeth  you  speak 

T1  y  ?™a  ^tchen  knave>"  ^  Sir  Gareth  said>  stm  speEg 

calmly      Think  you  so,  Lady ? "     And  Lynette  said,  •  Yea,"  and  sh!  sa'7 

I  see  that  thou  still  ever  f orgettest  my  commands,  for  thou  art  riding  so  nigh 
to  me  that  methmks  I  smell  the  kitchen.  Now  I  prythee  draw  a  little  farther 
away.  ;  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Damsel,  it  shall  be  as  you  command  "  And 
therewith  he  drew  rein  so  as  to  ride  at  a  little  greater  distance,  and  Lvnette 
laughed  to  see  him  do  so. 

Now  some  little  while  about  the  prime  of  the  day  they  came  to  a  certain 
grassy  place  of  considerable  extent,  and  at  that  place  was  a  black  haw- 
thorn bush,  very  aged  and  gnarled  and  full  of  thorns  that  stood  alone 
beside  the  highroad,  and  as  they  drew  nigh  to  it  they  perceived  that  there 
was  hung  upon  the  thorn  bush  a  great  black  shield  bearing  the  device  of 
the  red  gryphon,  and  they  saw  that  a  great  black  spear,  bearing  a  black 
pennon  with  the  device  of  a  red  gryphon  leaned  beside  the  shield.  And 
they  beheld  that  near  by  the  bush  was  a  noble  black  horse  with  trappings 
and  housings  all  of  black,  and  the  horse  cropped  the  grass  that  grew  at  that 
place. 

All  this  they  beheld,  and  as  they  came  still  nearer  they  perceived  that 
upon  the  other  side  of  the  hawthorn  bush  there  was  a  knight  clad  all  in 
black  armor,  and  they  saw  that  the  knight  sat  beside  a  great    The  behold 
flat  stone  and  ate  his  midday  meal  that  lay  spread  out  upon  the   the  black  knight 
stone.     And  the  knight  was  unaware  of  their  coming  but  ever   athtsntMl' 
ate  with  great  appetite  of  the  food  that  was  spread  before  him. 

Then  Lynette  drew  rein  while  they  were  yet  at  some  distance  and  she 
laughed  and  pointed  toward  the  hawthorn  bush,  behind  which  sat  the 
knight,  and  she  said :  "  Sir  Kitchen  Knave,  look  you  yonder  and  behold  that 
knight.  Seest  thou  the  device  upon  his  shield?  I  know  that  device  very 
well  and  so  I  may  tell  thee  that  that  knight  is  hight  Sir  Perard  and  that  he  is 
brother  of  Sir  Percevant  of  Hind,  and  that  he  is  a  very  strong,  worthy,  noble 
knight  and  one  of  great  renown  in  deeds  of  arms.  This  is  a  very  different 
sort  of  knight  from  those  thou  didst  overcome  at  the  ford  of  the  river, 
wherefore  be  thou  advised  by  me  and  turn  thee  about  and  get  thee  gone 
ere  yonder  knight  seest  thee,  or  else  harm  will  certainly  befall  thee." 

Quoth  Sir  Gareth:  "  Damsel,  having  followed  you  so  far  and  through  sev- 
eral dangers  it  is  not  very  likely  that  I  shall  turn  back  at  this,  even  if  there 
be  as  much  peril  in  it  as  you  say." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Lynette,  "  then  if  ill  befall  thee  thou  art  to  blame  thy- 
self therefor  and  not  blame  me."  Therewith  speaking,  she  tightened  the 
rein  of  her  palfrey  and  so  rode  forward  toward  that  hawthorn  bush  aforesaid. 


68  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Now  when  they  had  come  a  little  more  close  to  that  place,  the  Black 
Knight,  Sir  Perard,  was  aware  of  their  coming  and  looked  up  and  beheld 
them.  Then,  seeing  that  it  was  an  armed  knight  and  a  damsel  that  were 
coming  thitherward,  Sir  Perard  arose  very  slowly  and  with  great  dignity 
and  set  his  helm  upon  his  head,  and  so  he  made  him  ready  for  whatsoever 
might  befall.  Then  when  he  had  so  prepared  himself  he  came  out  into  the 
road  for  to  meet  them.  Then  when  Sir  Gareth  and  the  damsel  were  come 
pretty  nigh,  Sir  Perard  bespake  Sir  Gareth,  saying :  "  Sir  Knight,  I  pray  you 
of  your  courtesy  for  to  tell  me  who  you  are  and  whither  you  go  ? " 

Quoth  Sir  Gareth :  "  I  may  not  tell  you  who  I  am,  but  ask  you  this  damsel 
and  she  will  tell  you." 

Then  Sir  Perard  was  greatly  surprised  at  that  reply  and  he  said,  "  Is  this 
a  jest  ? "  And  he  said :  "  Damsel,  since  I  am  directed  to  you,  I  pray  of  you 
tell  to  me  the  name  and  the  degree  of  this  knight." 

Upon  this  Lynette  fell  alaughing  in  great  measure  and  she  said :  "  Mes- 
sire,  since  you  ask  me  that  thing,  I  have  to  tell  you  that  this  fellow  is  a 
certain  kitchen  knave,  hight  Beaumains,  who  hath  followed  me  hither  from 
the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  I  have  to  tell  you  further  that  many  times  I 
have  bid  him  begone  and  leave  me,  but  he  will  not  do  so,  but  continually 
followeth  after  me." 

"Fair  damsel,"  quoth  the  Black  Knight,  speaking  with  great  dignity, 
"  you  are  pleased  to  jest  with  me,  for  this  is  no  kitchen  knave  I  trow  but  a 
very  good  worshipful  knight  of  whom  you  are  pleased  to  say  such  things." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  spake  very  sternly,  saying,  "  Messire,  I  will  not  have  you 
or  any  man  gainsay  what  this  lady  sayeth."  And  the  Black  Knight,  still 
speaking  with  great  dignity,  said:  "  How  may  I  do  otherwise  than  gainsay 
her,  seeing  that  you  wear  armor  that  is  indented  with  the  marks  of  battle  ? 
For  who  ever  heard  of  a  kitchen  knave  wearing  such  armor  ? "  "  Ne'theless, ' ' 
quoth  Sir  Gareth,  "either  you  must  acknowledge  what  this  lady  sayeth  of  me, 
or  else  you  must  do  battle  with  me  so  that  I  may  defend  what  she  sayeth. ' ' 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Black  Knight,  "  in  that  case  I  will  do  battle  with  you,  for 
I  cannot  accept  the  saying  of  this  lady." 

So  therewith  Sir  Perard  took  down  his  shield  from  off  the  blackthorn 
bush  and  he  took  his  spear  into  his  hand  and  whistled  his  horse  to  him. 
And  he  mounted  his  horse  and  made  him  in  all  ways  ready  for  battle. 
Meanwhile  Sir  Gareth  waited  very  composedly  and  with  great  calmness  of 
bearing  until  the  other  was  in  all  wise  prepared.  Then  Sir  Perard  said,  "  I 
am  ready,  Messire."  And  therewith  each  knight  drew  rein  and  withdrew  to 
such  a  distance  as  was  fitting  for  a  course  to  an  assault.  Then  when  this 
was  accomplished,  each  knight  shouted  to  his  steed  and  each  charged  for- 


SIR  GARETH  OVERCOMETH  SIR  PERARD  69 

ward  against  the  other  with  a  terrible  speed  and  violence.  So  they  met 
in  the  midst  of  the  course  with  a  crash  that  might  have  been  sirGarethdoeth 
heard  for  two  fin-longs.  In  that  meeting  the  spear  of  each  battle  with  the 
knight  was  broken  into  many  pieces,  even  to  the  hand  that  held  BUlck  Km^ht- 
it,  and  the  horse  of  each  staggered  back  and  would  haply  have  fallen  had  not 
the  knight  rider  brought  him  to  foot  again  with  shout  and  prick  of  spur  and 
with  great  address  of  horsemanship.  Then  each  knight  voided  his  horse  and 
each  drew  his  sword  and  therewith  rushed  to  an  assault  at  arms.  And  each 
smote  the  other  again  and  again  and  yet  again,  lashing  such  blows  that  it 
sounded  as  though  several  blacksmiths  were  smiting  amain  upon  their 
anvils,  and  for  a  while  neither  knight  had  any  advantage  over  the  other,  but 
each  fought  for  that  time  a  well-matched  battle.  Then  of  a  sudden  Lynette 
cried  out  very  shrilly:  "Sir  Perard!  Sir  Perard!  Noble,  worthy  knight! 
Wilt  thou  suffer  a  kitchen  knave  to  have  his  will  of  thee?" 

So  she  cried  out  very  loud  and  shrill  and  Sir  Gareth  heard  the  words  she 
uttered.     Then  a  great  anger  came  upon  him  so  that  he  was  uplifted 
by  it,  as  though  the  strength  of  several  had  entered  into  his  body.     So 
straightway  he  redoubled  his  battle  to  twice  what  it  had  been  before,  giving 
stroke  upon  stroke,  so  that  the  Black  Knight  was  forced  to  bear  back  be- 
fore the  fierceness  and  violence  of  his  assault.  'Then  Sir  Gareth  perceived 
that  Sir  Perard  began  to  weary  a  very  great  deal  in  that  fight  and  to  bear 
his  defences  full  low,  and  therewith  he  redoubled  his  blows  and  smote. 
Perard  upon  the  helm  so  fiercely  that  his  brains  swam  like  water  and 
head  hung  low  upon  his  breast. 

Then,  perceiving  how  that  Sir  Perard  fainted,  Sir  Gareth  ran  to  him  and 
catched  him  by  the  helm  and  dragged  him  down  upon  his  knees  and 
rushed  off  the  helm  of  Sir  Perard,  and  catched  him  by  the  hair  and  dragged 
down  his  neck  so  that  he  might  have  slain  him  had  he  chosen  to  do  so. 

Then  Sir  Perard,  perceiving  how  near  death  was  to  him   catched  S* 
Gareth  about  the  knees,  and  cried  out  on  high/'  ^ 
so  thou  hast  it  at  thy  mercy."     Quoth  Sir  Gareth, 


^5^ 

and  spare  this  knight  his  life. 


70  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Upon  this  speech,  Sir  Gareth  released  his  hold  upon  Sir  Perard  and  said, 
"  Arise,  Sir  Knight,  for  I  will  spare  thy  life  upon  this  lady's  behest."  And 
therewith  Sir  Perard  arose  and  stood  upon  his  feet.  And  Sir  Perard  said: 
"  Sir,  thou  hast  conquered  me  in  fair  battle  and  for  that  reason  I  have  yielded 
me  to  thee.  Now,  I  prythee  tell  me,  hast  thou  any  commands  that  thou 
wouldst  lay  upon  me?"  Quoth  Sir  Gareth:  "Yea,  Messire,  I  have  a  com- 
mand to  lay  upon  you  and  this  is  that  command :  It  is  that  you  straight- 
way go  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  and  pay  your  duty  unto  him.  And  you 
are  to  say  unto  King  Arthur  that  Beaumains,  the  kitchen  knave,  hath  sent 
you  unto  him.  And  I  pray  you  give  him  news  of  me  and  tell  him  it  fareth 
well  with  me."  And  Sir  Perard  said,  "Messire,  it  shall  be  done  according 
to  your  bidding."  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  See  that  it  is  so." 

Now  in  all  these  things  that  Sir  Gareth  did  and  said  he  ever  bore  himself 
with  such  dignity  and  haughtiness  that  a  knight  of  ten  years'  standing  would 
not  have  acted  with  more  dignity  than  he.  And  after  he  had  settled  those 
affairs  in  that  wise,  he  turned  to  Lynette  and  addressed  himself  to  her,  say- 
ing, "  Lady,  if  so  be  thou  art  now  ready  to  depart  I  am  ready  to  accompany 
thee,"  and  with  that  the  damsel  took  her  departure  and  Sir  Gareth  and  Axa- 
talese  followed  after  her.  So  they  left  that  place  of  battle  and  soon  after 
they  had  gone  Sir  Perard  departed  upon  his  way  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur 
as  he  had  been  commanded  to  do  by  Sir  Gareth  as  aforesaid. 

Now  after  Lynette  and  Sir  Gareth  had  ridden  some  while  in  silence, 
Lynette  turned  her  face  and  looked  upon  Sir  Gareth.  And  she  said,  "  Sir 
Kitchen  Knave,  I  would  I  knew  who  thou  really  art."  To  the  which  Sir 
Gareth  answered  very  calmly,  "  Thou  hast  declared  several  times  who  I  am 
and  that  I  am  a  kitchen  knave  from  King  Arthur's  court."  Then  Lynette 
laughed  and  she  said,  "True,  I  had  nigh  forgot."  And  she  said,  "Ride 
not  so  near  to  me  for  still,  I  believe,  thou  savorest  of  the  kitchen."  And 
thereupon  Sir  Gareth  withdrew  to  that  same  distance  he  had  assumed 
before. 

Now  somewhile  toward  the  approach  of  eventide,  Sir  Gareth  and  Lyn- 
ette and  Axatalese  came  away  from  that  part  of  the  country  and  to  where 
the  forest  began  again.  And  it  befell  that  as  they  approached  the  forest 
they  beheld  of  a  sudden  one  who  came  spurring  out  of  the  woodlands  riding 
upon  a  white  horse,  driving  very  furiously  and  at  full  speed.  This  rider 
when  he  was  come  nigh  suddenly  drew  rein,  and  flinging  himself  from  the 
They  behold  saddle  he  ran  to  Sir  Gareth  and  catched  him  by  the  stirrup, 
one  fleeing  from  crying  out:  "Sir  Knight!  Sir  Knight!  I  crave  you  of  your 
e forest.  worship  that  you  will  lend  your  aid  in  a  case  of  woful  need!" 

Then  Sir  Gareth  beheld  that  this  one  who  had  come  to  him  in  this  wise  was 


SIR  GARETH  RESCUETH   THE  KNIGHT  IN  TROUBLE  71 

an  esquire,  clad  in  green  and  yellow  and  that  he  was  one  of  good  appearance 
and  of  quality.  And  Sir  Gareth  said :  "  Fair  Friend,  I  prythee  tell  me  what 
service  it  is  that  thou  wouldst  have  of  me?  " 

"  Sir,"  cried  that  esquire,  "  my  master,  who  is  a  knight  of  these  marches, 
is  beset  within  the  forest  yonder  by  several  thieves  and  I  fear  they  will  slay 
him  unless  help  cometh  to  him  in  short  order."  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Where  is 
your  master?  "  And  the  esquire  said,  "  Follow  me  and  I  will  bring  you  to 
him." 

So  the  esquire  mounted  his  horse  again  and  drave  away  with  all  speed 
and  Sir  Gareth  set  spurs  to  his  horse  and  also  drave  away  at  speed,  and  Lyn- 
ette  and  the  dwarf  followed  with  speed  after  Sir  Gareth.     So  anon  they 
entered  the  forest  and  coursed  therethrough  for  a  little  ways  and  then  Sir 
Gareth  perceived  where  at  a  short  distance  there  was  a  knight  set  with  his 
back  against  a  tree  defending  himself  against  six  great  and  brawny  villains 
clad  in  full  armor.     And  Sir  Gareth  beheld  that  there  were  three  other 
villains  who  lay  dead  upon  the  ground,  but  that  the  knight  was  in  a  sorry 
case,  bleeding  from  several  wounds  and  very  weary  with  his   sirGareth 
battle.     Thereupon,  beholding  this,  Sir  Gareth  drew  his  sword   driveth  to  rescue 
and  cried  out  in  a  very  loud  voice:  "Have  at  ye,  villains!   %™?nd 
Have  at  ye!  "  and  therewith  drave  into  the  midst  of  that 
contest      And  the  thieves  were  astonished  at  the  violence  of  his  coming  so 
that  they  knew  not  what  to  do,  for  Sir  Gareth  drave  into  their  midst  with- 
out let  or  pause  of  any  sort.     And  ere  they  recovered  from  their  astonish- 
ment, Sir  Gareth  struck  one  of  the  villains  to  the  earth  at  a  single  blow  and 
then  he  smote  down  another.     And  a  third  would  have  defended  hi 
but  Sir  Gareth  rose  up  in  his  stirrups  and  he  smote  him  so .full  and  tem 
a  buffet  that  he  clave  through  his  morion  and  through  his  head 


iucu  u^^&  that  dreadful  terrible  blow  that  Sir 
their  companion,  the  other  three  villains  were  adread 
shrieking  away  into  the  forest.  But  Sir  Gareth  would 
charged  after  them  with  great  fury.    And  the  three  thieves 
could  not  escape,  and  that  there  was  naught  else  for  the 
and  stand  at  bay  and  so  they  did.     But  Sir  Caret h  jould  n, 

by  this,  but  he  drave  straightway  into  their  midst  and  struck  _ 

upon  this  side  and  upon  that,  so  that  maugre  theii jdjjjj^  ^  theif  bloodi 
three  of  those  villains  were  presently  str«™,          .  5      his  sword  very 
upon  the  ground.     Then  Sir  Gareth  rode  back  again,  w 
calmly  ere  he  put  it  back  into  its  sheath  ^      d  at 

So  anon  he  came  to  where  was  that  knight  whom  he  1 


72  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

that  time  Lynette  and  Axatalese  and  the  esquire  were  lending  such  aid  to 
the  wounded  man  as  his  case  demanded. 

But  when  that  knight  beheld  Sir  Gareth  returning  from  his  battle,  he 
broke  away  from  the  others  and  came  to  Sir  Gareth  and  embraced  him 
about  the  knee  and  said,  "Messire,  you  have  certes  saved  my  life."  And 
he  said :  "  I  pray  you  tell  me  what  great  and  worshipful  knight  you  are  who 
doeth  such  wonderful  battle  as  I  beheld.  Never  would  I  have  supposed  it 
possible  that  any  single  knight  could  have  overthrown  six  armed  men  with 
such  ease  as  I  have  beheld  you  do  this  day." 

Now  Lynette  was  standing  by  at  that  time  and  her  eyes  were  wonderfully 
bright  and  shining  and  she  looked  very  strangely  upon  Sir  Gareth.  Then 
Lynette  mocketh  hearing  what  that  knight  said  whom  Sir  Gareth  had  rescued 
Sir  Gareth.  she  burst  out  laughing  very  shrilly  and  piercingly  and  she  cried 
out,  "Sir  Knight,  wit  you  who  this  is  who  hath  saved  your  life?"  The 
knight  said,  "Nay,  damsel,  I  know  not."  She  said:  "Wit  you  then  that 
this  is  a  kitchen  knave  of  King  Arthur's  court  hight  Beaumains,  so  hight 
because  of  the  whiteness  of  his  hands.  He  hath  followed  me  hither 
against  my  will,  and  I  cannot  drive  him  from  me." 

Then  that  knight  was  very  much  astonished  and  he  said:  " Fair  damsel, 
certes  you  jest  with  me,  for  indeed  this  is  some  very  noble  and  well-approved 
knight  of  great  worship.  For  no  one  but  such  a  knight  as  that  could  have 
done  such  deeds  of  arms  as  I  beheld  this  day." 

Now  at  that  time  Sir  Gareth  was  very  weary  with  the  battles  he  had 
fought  during  the  day,  and  his  body  was  sore  with  several  wounds  that  he 
had  suffered,  and  his  spirit  was  very  greatly  vexed  with  the  scorn  with 
Sir  Gareth  which  Lynette  had  ever  treated  him  for  all  this  while,  where- 
rebuketh  the  fore  he  had  but  little  patience  to  deal  to  any  man.  So  straight- 
kmght.  wav  ke  turne(j  h^  toward  that  knight  and  he  spake  very 

sternly  to  him,  saying :  "  Messire,  do  you  intend  to  gainsay  that  which  this 
lady  sayeth  to  you  concerning  me?  Wit  you  that  I  will  not  suffer  her  word 
to  be  put  in  question  in  any  wise.  Wherefore,  if  she  is  pleased  to  say  that 
I  am  a  scullion  lad,  so  for  her  sake  you  must  believe  it  to  be." 

At  this  that  knight  was  more  astonished  than  before,  and  he  wist  not  what 
to  think.  So  anon  he  said :  "  Messire,  certes  I  meant  no  offence  to  you,  for 
how  should  I  mean  offence  to  one  who  hath  done  me  such  service  as  you 
have  rendered  to  me  this  day  ? " 

"  Well,"  quoth  Sir  Gareth,  "  in  this  I  am  greatly  offended  that  you  should 
gainsay  that  which  this  lady  is  pleased  to  say.  Wit  you  that  for  this  while 
I  am  this  lady's  champion,  and  so  I  will  suffer  no  one  to  gainsay  her."  So 
said  Sir  Gareth,  and  when  he  had  ended  that  saying,  Lynette  laughed  and 


SIR  GARETH  AND  LYNETTE  GOETH  TO  THE  KNIGHT'S  CASTLE    n 
laughed  again  with  all  her  might  and  main.    And  she  cried  out  "  Well  said 
thou  kitchen  knave!"  unto  the  which  speech  Sir  Gareth  made  no  reply   ' 

Then  that  knight  said  to  Sir  Gareth  and  to  Lynette:  "Messire,  and  thou 
fair  damsel,  I  know  not  what  all  this  meaneth  but  haply  you  know.  But  I 
see,  Sir  Knight,  that  thou  art  wounded  in  several  places,  and  I  doubt  not 
that  you  are  both  aweary  with  your  travels,  wherefore  I  pray  you  that  you 
will  come  with  me  to  my  castle  which  is  not  a  very  great  distance  away 
from  this,  and  I  beseech  you  there  to  lodge  and  to  refresh  you  for  this 
night." 

To  this  Lynette  said :  "  That  which  thou  sayest  pleases  me  very  greatly. 
Messire,  for  indeed  I  am  aweary  and  would  fain  rest  me  a  little.  So  let  us 
go  forward  to  your  castle.  But  this  Beaumains  must  ride  not  so  close  to  us 
for  indeed  I  cannot  abide  the  odor  of  the  kitchen." 

So  after  that  they  all  departed  from  that  place,  and  ever  Sir  Gareth  rode 
at  a  distance  as  the  damsel  had  commanded  him  to  do. 
.    Now  after  they  had  gone  a  considerable  way  they  came  out  of  the 
forest  and  into  a  valley  wherein  stood  the  castle  of  that  knight.    And  it  was 
a  very  fair  and  noble  castle  and  the  valley  was  exceedingly   Thfycometo 
fertile  with  many  rich  fields  and  meadows  and  with  several   the  castu  oj  the 
plantations  of  trees,  both  of  fruit  trees  and  otherwise.  Through   kmght' 
this  fruitful  valley  they  came  to  the  castle  and  they  rode  into  the  castle 
courtyard  with  a  great  noise  of  horses'  hoofs  upon  the  cobblestones,  and 
at  that  coming  many  of  the  attendants  of  the  castle  came  running  for  to 
take  their  horses  and  to  serve  them. 

Then  Lynette  gazed  about  her  and  she  said  to  the  knight  of  the  castle, 
"  Messire,  who  are  these  ?"  He  said :  "  Fair  damsel,  these  are  they  who  would 
take  your  horse  and  the  horse  of  that  noble  knight  your  companion,  and 
others  are  they  who  would  wait  upon  you  and  upon  him  to  serve  you  both." 
Then  Lynette  said:  "  Not  so,  Sir  Knight,  my  horse  they  may  take  and  me 
they  may  serve,  but  it  is  not  meet  that  a  kitchen  knave  such  as  Beaumains 
should  be  waited  upon  in  that  wise,  wherefore  I  bid  you  to  suffer  him  to 
wait  upon  himself." 

Upon  this  speech  Sir  Gareth  turned  him  to  the  knight  of  the  castle  i 
his  face  was  very  calm,  albeit  his  eyes  shone  like  sparks  of  fire  and  he  said, 
speaking  very  haughtily:  "  Messire,  whitherward  is  the  stable?   Sir  Garth 
I  pray  you  to  tell  me  so  that  I  may  house  my  good  horse  and 
wait  upon  myself  as  this  lady,  whom  I  have  undertaken  to  serve,  hath  co 
manded  me  to  do."     Then  the  knight  of  the  castle  was  much  troub ted  an 
knew  not  what  to  reply ;  yet  anon  he  said,  "  Messire,  I  know  not  what  to  say 
in  this  case  but  an  you  ask  me  I  must  say  the  stable  lieth  yonderways. 


74  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

So  spake  the  knight,  and  thereupon  Sir  Gareth  turned  him  without  an- 
other word  and  rode  away,  still  very  calmly,  leaving  them  alone. 

So  after  that  the  knight  and  Lynette  entered  the  castle.  But  the  knight, 
when  he  was  alone,  called  to  him  the  steward  of  the  castle  and  he  said  to 
him:  "Go  you  and  search  out  that  noble  and  worthy  knight,  for  assuredly 
he  is  some  great  and  famous  champion.  See  you  that  he  is  served  in  all  wise 
that  such  an  one  should  be  served,  and  spare  naught  to  comfort  him  and  put 
him  at  his  ease,  for  this  day  he  hath  certes  saved  my  life."  So  the  steward 
did  as  he  was  bidden  and  that  evening  Sir  Gareth  was  served  in  all  wise 
befitting  for  a  knight  royal  such  as  he  really  was. 

Now  when  the  next  day  was  come,  and  when  it  was  time  for  Lynette  and 
Sir  Gareth  and  Axatalese  the  dwarf  to  depart  from  that  place,  the  knight 
of  the  castle  came  to  Sir  Gareth  where  he  sat  upon  his  horse.  And  he  laid 
his  hand  upon  the  stirrup  of  Sir  Gareth  and  he  said :  "  Messire,  I  pray  you 
tell  me,  is  there  any  service  that  I  may  do  you  that  you  would  have  of  me  ? " 

Then  Sir  Gareth  looked  down  upon  that  knight  and  he  said :  "  Sir,  there 
is  a  service  you  could  render  me  an  you  chose  to  do  so,  and  this  is  that 
service :  it  is  that  you  should  go  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  with 
biddeththc  all  the  estate  that  is  befitting  for  one  of  your  degree.  And 
knight  to  do  when  you  have  come  to  the  court  I  would  fain  have  you  tell 
King  Arthur  that  Beaumains,  the  kitchen  knave,  hath  sent  you 
to  him  for  to  pay  your  court  unto  him.  And  I  would  have  you  tell  the 
King  and  Sir  Gawaine  how  it  hath  fared  with  me  so  far  as  you  are  aware 
of.'*  Thus  said  Sir  Gareth,  and  to  him  the  knight  of  the  castle  made 
reply :  "Sir,  it  shall  be  done  as  you  ordain ;  for  all  those  things  I  will  do 
exactly  as  you  commanded  me." 

So  after  that  they  three  departed  upon  their  way,  the  damsel  Lynette 
riding  ahead  and  Sir  Gareth  and  the  dwarf  riding  some  distance  behind. 

And  now  if  you  would  hear  what  other  adventures  befell  Sir  Gareth  and 
Lynette  at  this  time  I  pray  you  to  read  further,  for  there  these  several  things 
are  told  of  in  due  order. 


Chapter  Fourth 

How  Sir  Gareth  met  Sir  Percevant  of  Hind,  and  how  he  came  to 
Castle  Dangerous  and  had  speech  with  the  Lady  Layonnesse. 
Also  how  the  Lady  Layonnesse  accepted  him  for  her  champion. 

SO  the  damsel  Lynette  followed  by  Sir  Gareth  and  the  dwarf  travelled 
for  all  that  morning  and  a  part  of  the  afternoon  without  let  or  stay 
of  any  sort  and  without  meeting  with  any  adventure  whatsoever, 
and  in  all  that  time  the  damsel  said  no  word  to  Sir  Gareth  whether  of  good 
or  ill,  but  ever  kept  her  eyes  fixed  straight  before  her  as  though  very  much 
occupied  with  thought. 

So  about  two  hours  or  three  after  the  prime  of  the  day  they  came  to  the 
top  of  a  very  long  steep  hill,  and  there  beneath  them  in  the  valley  that  lay 
below  the  hill,  Sir  Gareth  perceived  that  a  considerable  company  and  one 
that  appeared  to  be  of  great  estate  were  foregathered.  For  at  T,  behold  a 
that  place  there  were  a  number  of  pavilions  of  divers  colored  fair  pavilion »» 
silk  and  above  each  pavilion  there  flew  a  silken  banner  bearing  ' 
the  device  of  the  owner  of  that  pavilion.  And  in  the  midst  of  all  those  other 
pavilions  there  was  one  that  was  manifestly  the  pavilion  of  the  knight- 
champion  or  of  the  overlord  of  all  the  others.  For  that  pavilion  was  of 
crimson  silk  embroidered  with  figures  in  threads  of  silver  and  black,  and 
above  the  pavilion  there  flew  a  banner  of  very  great  size,  which  same  was 
also  of  crimson  silk  embroidered  in  silver  and  black  with  the  figure  of  a 
leopard  couchant. 

And  from  where  he  stood  upon  the  heights,  Sir  Gareth  saw  that  all  these 
pavilions  were  spread  in  a  fair  level  meadow  with  grass  well  mown,  as 
smooth  as  a  cloth  of  green  velvet,  and  all  bright  with  gay  and  pretty  flowers. 
And  this  meadow  and  other  meadows  beyond  it  stretched  away  to  a  great 
distance  and  at  the  extremity  of  the  distance  was  a  fair  tall  castle  and  a 
goodly  town  of  many  towers,  all  shining  very  bright  in  the  clear  transpa: 
daylight.  ...  ,  , 

All  this  Sir  Gareth  beheld  very  plain,  as  it  were  upon  the  palm  of  his  hand, 


78  THE  STORY   OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

and  he  beheld  how  above  all  that  level,  fruitful  valley  the  sky  arched  like  to  a 
roof  of  crystal — warm  and  perfectly  blue,  and  filled  full  of  a  very  great  many 
clouds. 

Then  Lynette  said :  "  Hah,  Beaumains,  see  you  yonder  pavilions  and  see 
you  that  pavilion  which  is  in  their  midst?"  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "Yea, 
damsel,  I  behold  them  all." 

Quoth  Lynette :  "  Wit  you  that  that  central  pavilion  belongeth  to  Sir 
Percevant  of  Hind,  for  well  do  I  know  the  device  embroidered  upon  his 
banner.  And  I  have  to  tell  you  that  Sir  Percevant  is  one  of  the  very  great- 
est of  the  knights  champion  of  this  realm  and  that  he  hath  fought  many 
L  nette  telieth  titles  with  some  of  the  chief est  Knights  of  the  Round  Table 
Sir  Gareth  of  and  hath  come  forth  with  great  credit  in  all  those  encounters. 
Str  Percevant-  Now,  Beaumains,  this  is  a  very  different  sort  of  knight  from 
any  of  those  with  whom  you  have  hitherto  had  to  do,  wherefore  be  you 
advised  that  it  is  not  meet  for  a  kitchen  knave  to  have  to  do  in  such  an  ad- 
venture as  this.  So  turn  you  about  and  get  you  gone  or  else  of  a  surety  some 
great  ill  will  befall  you  in  this  affair." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  looked  very  calmly  upon  Lynette  and  he  said :  "  Lady, 
it  may  well  be  that  a  man  who  assumeth  to  have  credit  and  honor  may 
fail  in  an  undertaking  of  this  sort,  but  when  have  you  ever  heard  that  such  a 
man  of  credit  or  of  honor  hath  withdrawn  him  from  an  adventure  because 
there  is  great  danger  in  it?  " 

Then  Lynette  laughed  and  she  said:  "Hah,  Beaumains,  thou  speakest 
with  a  very  high  spirit  for  one  who  is  but  a  kitchen  knave.  Now  if  harm 
befalleth  thee  because  of  this  undertaking,  blame  thyself  therefor."  And 
Sir  Gareth  said :  "  So  will  I  do,  and  rest  you  well  assured,  fair  damsel,  that 
never  shall  I  blame  you  for  that  or  for  anything  else  that  may  befall  me." 
And  at  that  Lynette  laughed  again. 

Then  Sir  Gareth  drew  rein  and  turned  downhill  to  where  were  those 
pavilions  aforesaid,  and  so  they  all  three  descended  from  the  height  into  the 
valley  and  so  came  toward  that  fair  meadow  wherein  the  silken  tents  had 
been  erected. 

Now  as  they  drew  near  to  the  pavilions,  they  beheld  several  esquires 
who  were  sitting  at  a  bench  playing  at  dice.  These,  beholding  Sir  Gareth 
coming  in  that  wise  with  the  fair  damsel  and  the  dwarf,  they  all  arose,  and  he 
that  was  chief  among  them  said :  "  Sir,  what  knight  are  you,  and  what  is 
ygur  degree,  and  why  come  you  hitherward?"  Him  answered  Sir  Gareth, 
saying:  "  Friend,  it  matters  not  who  I  am  saving  only  that  I  am  of  sufficient 
worth.  As  for  my  business,  it  is  to  have  speech  with  Sir  Percevant  of  Hind, 
the  lord  of  this  company." 


SIR  GARETH  MEETETH  SIR  PERCEVANT  OF  HIND 


past  all  those  esquires  and  Lynette  and  the  dwarf  went  with  him  and  no  one 
dared  to  stay  him.  So  they  came  to  the  pavilion  of  Sir  Percevant  and  S* 
Percevant  was  within  his  pavilion  at  that  time. 

Now  before  the  pavilion  there  was  a  tall  painted  post  set  into  the  ground 
and  upon  the  post  there  hung  a  great  shield,  bearing  upon  it  the  device  of  a 
leopard  couchant  in  black  and  white,  and  so  Sir  Gareth  perceived  that  this 
was  the  shield  of  Sir  Percevant. 

Then  Sir  Gareth  drew  his  sword  and  he  went  forward  and  smote  the  shield 
such  a  blow  that  it  rang  like  thunder  beneath  the  stroke  that  he  gave  it. 

Therewith  came  Sir  Percevant  of  Hind  out  of  his  pavilion  and  his  coun- 
tenance was  all  aflame  with  anger  and  he  cried  out  very  fiercely:  "Messire, 
who  are  you  who  dare  to  smite  my  shield  in  that  wise  ? " 

But  Sir  Gareth  sat  his  horse  very  calmly,  and  he  said:  "Messire,  I  struck 
your  shield  for  to  call  you  forth  so  that  I  might  have  speech   SirGarth 
with  you.     As  for  my  name,  I  will  not  tell  you  that  nor  my  cLu^geth  sir 
degree.     But  if  you  would  know  these  things,  I  bid  you  for  to   Percffvant- 
ask  them  of  this  lady  who  is  my  companion." 

Then  Sir  Percevant  turned  him  to  Lynette,  and  he  said,  "  Damsel,  who  is 
this  knight? "  And  Lynette  said:  "  Sir,  I  know  not  otherwise  than  that  he 
is  a  kitchen  knave  of  King  Arthur's  court  who  hath  clothed  himself  in  armor. 
He  is  called  Beaumains,  and  fain  would  I  have  been  rid  of  him  several  times, 
but  could  not ;  for  ever  he  followeth  me,  and,  maugre  my  wishes,  will  ever 
serve  as  my  champion." 

Then  Sir  Percevant  turned  unto  Sir  Gareth  with  great  anger  and  he  said: 
"  Sir,  I  know  not  what  is  this  jest  that  you  and  your  damsel  seek  to  put  upon 
me,  but  this  I  do  know,  that  since  you  have  appointed  her  to  speak  for  you, 
and  since  she  declareth  you  to  be  a  kitchen  knave,  so  must  I  believe  you  to 
be.  Wherefore,  unless  you  straightway  declare  your  name  and  your  degree 
to  me  upon  your  own  account,  and  unless  you  prove  to  me  that  you  are 
otherwise  than  this  damsel  sayeth,  I  shall  straightway  have  you  stripped 
of  your  armor  and  shall  have  you  bound  and  beaten  with  cords  for  this 
affront  that  you  have  put  upon  my  shield." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  spake  very  calmly,  saying:  "Sir,  that  would  be  a  pity 
for  you  to  do,  for  I  have  to  tell  you  that,  whether  I  be  a  kitchen  knave  or 
no,  nevertheless  I  have  had  to  do  with  several  good  and  worthy  knights 
of  fair  repute.  For  I  have  to  tell  you  that  one  of  these  knights  was  ^ 


8o  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

Launcelot  of  the  Lake  and  that  he  made  me  knight.  And  I  have  to  tell 
you  that  another  one  of  these  was  your  own  brother,  Sir  Perard,  whom 
I  overcame  yesterday  in  battle  and  whom  I  would  have  slain  only  that  this 
damsel  besought  his  life  at  my  hands.  And  I  have  to  tell  you  that  Sir 
Perard  is  even  now  upon  his  way  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  there  to  pay 
his  duty  to  the  King  upon  my  demand  upon  him  to  that  end." 

Then  Sir  Percevant  cleared  his  brow  of  its  anger,  and  he  said :  "  Sir,  I 
perceive  from  all  that  you  tell  me  that  you  are  some  knight  of  very  good 
quality  and  merit.  Wherefore  I  will  withdraw  that  which  I  said  and  will 
do  you  battle  because  you  have  struck  my  shield.  And  it  will  go  hard 
with  me  but  I  shall  serve  you  in  such  a  way  as  shall  well  wipe  out  that 
affront  in  your  warm  red  blood.  For  I  promise  you  that  I  shall  not  let  or 
stay  in  the  battle  against  you." 

So  spake  Sir  Percevant  and  straightway  he  withdrew  him  into  his  tent 
and  several  of  the  knights  who  were  his  companions  and  several  esquires 
who  had  gathered  about  in  this  while  of  talk,  went  into  his  pavilion  with  him 
and  there  aided  him  to  don  his  armor  and  to  fit  himself  for  battle. 

So  anon  Sir  Percevant  came  forth  again  in  all  wise  prepared  for  that 
battle.  And  his  esquires  brought  to  him  a  noble  horse  as  white  as  milk  and 
Of  the  meadow  they  assisted  him  to  mount  thereon,  And  Sir  Percevant  took 
of  battle.  a  great  spear  into  his  hand  and  so  turned  and  led  the  way 

toward  a  fair  smooth  level  lawn  of  grass  whereon  two  knights  might  well 
run  atilt  against  one  another.  And  all  they  who  were  of  that  company  fol- 
lowed Sir  Percevant  and  Sir  Gareth  to  that  lawn  of  grass,  and  the  damsel 
Lynette  and  the  dwarf  Axatalese  went  thither  along  with  the  others. 

So  coming  to  that  place  a  marshal  of  the  lists  was  appointed,  and  there- 
after each  knight  was  assigned  a  certain  station  by  that  marshal.  Then, 
everything  being  duly  prepared,  the  word  for  the  assault  was  given,  and 
each  knight  launched  forth  against  the  other  with  all  the  speed  with  which 
he  was  able  to  drive.  So  they  met  in  the  midst  of  the  course  with  a  great 
roar  and  crashing  of  wood  and  metal  and  in  that  encounter  the  spear  of  each 
knight  was  broken  into  small  pieces  and  the  horse  of  each  staggered  back 
from  beneath  the  blow  and  would  have  fallen  had  not  the  knight  rider 
recovered  him  with  rein  and  spur  and  voice. 

Then  each  knight  leaped  down  from  his  horse  and  drew  his  sword  and  rushed 
to  the  assault  afoot  with  all  the  fierceness  of  two  wild  boars  engaged  in 
Sir  Gareth  doeth  ^a^e-  And  thereupon  they  fell  to  lashing  such  blows  at  one 
battle  with  sir  another  that  even  they  who  looked  on  from  a  distance  were 
affrighted  at  the  violence  and  the  uproar  of  that  assault.  For 
the  two  champions  fought  very  fiercely,  and  the  longer  they  fought  the  more 


SIR  GARETH  OVERTHROWETH  SIR  PERCEVANT  8i 

fiercely  they  did  battle.  And  in  a  little  while  the  armor  of  each  was  all  stained 
red,  and  the  ground  upon  which  they  fought  was  all  besprinkled  with  red 
yet  neither  knight  had  any  thought  of  yielding  to  the  other  in  any  whit  or 
degree,  but  still  each  fought  on  with  ever-increasing  fury  against  the  other. 

Now  at  this  time  neither  knight  had  aught  of  advantage  against  the  other, 
and  no  man  might  have  told  how  that  battle  would  have  gone,  but  at  the 
moment  of  the  greatest  doubt,  Lynette  uplifted  her  voice  aloud,  as  it  were 
in  terror,  crying  out  very  shrilly  and  vehemently:  "Good  worthy  knight 
Sir  Percevant,  will  you  then  let  a  kitchen  knave  and  a  scullion  stay  you 
thus  in  your  battle  ?  5  ' 

Then  it  befell  as  it  had  befallen  before  when  Sir  Gareth  fought  with  the 
Black  Knight,  Sir  Percevant's  brother,  for  Sir  Gareth  heard  the  words  that 
Lynette  cried  out,  and  straightway  it  was  as  though  the  new  strength  of 
several  men  had  entered  into  his  body  because  of  his  anger  at  those  words. 
And  that  anger  consumed  all  else  that  was  before  it,  whether  that  other  were 
of  prudence  or  of  temper.     For  straightway  Sir  Gareth  flung  aside  his  shield 
and  seized  his  sword  in  both  hands  and  rushed  upon  Sir  Percevant  and 
struck  blow  upon  blow  so  fiercely  and  so  violently  that  nor  skill  nor  strength 
might  withstand  his  assault.     Then  Sir  Percevant  fell  back  before  that 
assault  and  could  not  do  otherwise,  and  he  bore  his  shield  full  low  ;  but  ever 
Sir  Gareth  followed  him  and  smote  him  more  and  more  violently  so  that  Sir 
Percevant  could  no  longer  hold  up  his  shield  against  the  assault  of  his 
enemy.     And  Sir  Gareth  perceived  that  Sir  Percevant  waxed  feeble  in  his 
defence  and  with  that  he  rushed  in  and  smote  Sir  Percevant  upon  the  helm  so 
woeful  a  blow  that  Sir  Percevant  could  no  longer  stand  upon  his  feet  but 
sank  slowly  down  upon  his  knees  before  Sir  Gareth.     Then  Sir  Gareth  ran  to 
Sir  Percevant  and  catched  him  by  the  helm  and  rushed  the   sirGareth 
helm  off  from  his  head  and  with  that  Sir  Percevant  wist  that   ^^hsir 
death  overshadowed  him.     Then  Sir  Percevant  catched  Sir 
Gareth  about  the  thighs  and,  embracing  him,  cried  out:  "  Messire  spare  my 
life  and  do  not  slay  me!"     And  all  those  knights  and  esquires  who  wer 
attendance  upon  Sir  Percevant  pressed  about  Sir  Gareth  where  he  i 
and  lifted  up  their  voices,  also  crying  out:  "Sir  Knight  ;to  not  slay  t 
good  worthy  knight  our  champion,  but  spare  his  life  to  him 

Then  Sir  Gareth,  all  wet  with  the  blood  and  sweat  of  ^battk  and  pa^ng 
for  breath  said  in  a  very  hoarse  voice  :  "  Ask  ye  not  for  this  Imight  s  Kfetel 
will  not  spare  his  life  to  him  except  upon  one  condition,  and  tha  condit* 
is  that  the  damsel  whose  champion  I  am  shall  ask  his  life 


Now  at  that  time  Lynette  was  weeping  aman 
of  that  fierce  battle  or  because  of  something  else,  who  may 


82  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

she  wept,  and  ever  she  laughed  and  wept  again.  And  she  cried  out  :  "  Thou 
saucy  knave,  Beaumains,  who  art  thou  to  make  such  a  demand  as  that?  " 

But  Sir  Gareth  said  :  "  If  I  be  saucy,  let  it  pass,  yet  so  it  is  as  I  have  said, 
and  I  will  not  spare  this  knight  his  life  unless  thou  ask  it  of  me,"  and  there- 
with he  catched  Sir  Percevant  by  the  hair  and  lifted  his  sword  on  high  as 
though  to  separate  the  head  of  Sir  Percevant  from  off  his  body. 

Then  all  those  knights  and  esquires  crowded  around  Lynette  and  be- 
sought her  that  she  would  ask  for  the  life  of  Sir  Percevant.  And  Lynette 
L  nette  said:  "Stay  thy  hand,  Beaumains,  and  slay  him  not,  for  it 

beseecheth  sir  would  be  a  pity  for  so  good  and  worthy  a  knight  as  Sir  Perce- 
Pcrcevarfsiife.  vant  of  Hind  to  loge  his  life  at  ^  ^ands  of  a  kitchen  knave 

such  as  thou  art." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  said  :  "  Arise,  Sir  Knight,  and  stand  up,  for  the  word  of 
this  lady  hath  saved  thy  life."  And  therewith  Sir  Gareth  released  his  hold 
of  Sir  Percevant  and  Sir  Percevant  arose  and  stood  up. 

Then  Sir  Percevant  said  :  "  Sir,  thou  hast  beaten  me  in  a  very  fair  and  bitter 
battle  and  so  I  yield  myself  to  thee.      Now  I  pray  thee  tell  me  what  are 
thy  commands  upon  me?"     And  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Sir,  thou  sayest  well, 
and  these  are  my  commands:  that  thou,  together  with  all  this 
thy  company  of  knights  and  esquires,  do  take  your  departure 


service  of  sir  from  this  field  and  that  ye  all  go  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur. 
And  it  is  my  desire  that  when  thou  hast  come  to  the  court  of  the 
King  thou  shalt  pay  thy  duty  to  him  and  say  to  him  that  Beaumains,  the 
kitchen  knave,  hath  sent  thee  to  pay  that  duty." 

Then  Sir  Percevant  bowed  his  head  before  Sir  Gareth  and  said:  "Sir,  it 
shall  be  as  you  command."  And  after  that  he  said,  "  Sir,  I  pray  you  that 
you  will  do  me  this  favor  ;  I  pray  you  that  you  will  come  with  me  to  yonder 
castle  at  that  town  which  you  see  afar  off.  For  that  is  my  castle  and  my 
town  and  I  am  fain  that  you  should  rest  you  ere  you  go  farther  upon  your 
way,  and  that  you  should  refresh  yourself  at  my  castle.  I  perceive  that  you 
are  wounded  in  several  places,  and  I  would  fain  that  you  should  have  your 
wounds  searched  and  dressed  and  that  you  should  have  rest  and  ease  ere 
you  go  forward,  so  that  your  wounds  may  be  healed  and  that  you  may  be 
made  hale  when  you  undertake  your  further  adventures." 

To  this  Sir  Gareth  said  :  "  Sir,  I  thank  you  well  for  your  courtesy  and  it  will 
pleasure  me  greatly  to  go  to  your  castle  with  you  and  there  to  rest  me  awhile. 
For  indeed  it  hath  been  a  sore  battle  that  I  have  fought  with  you  this  day 
and  I  suffer  a  very  great  deal  of  pain.  Moreover  I  have  fought  other  battles 
of  late  and  am  aweary  and  in  no  fit  case  to  go  farther  at  this  present." 

So  after  Sir  Gareth  and  Sir  Percevant  had  rested  them  a  little,  they  and 


SIR  GARETH  AND  LYNETTE  LEAVE  SIR  PERCEVANTS  CASTLE  83 
all  of  their  companies  departed  thence  and  betook  their  way  to  the  castle  of 
Sir  Percevant.  There  Sir  Gareth  was  bathed  and  his  wounds  were  slrcM 
and  dressed  and  he  was  put  in  all  ease  that  was  possible. 

And  Sir  Percevant  gave  command  that  ever  a  company  of  knights  should 
stand  guard  over  Sir  Gareth  where  he  lay  so  that  no  harm  should  befall 
him,  and  it  was  done  according  to  that  command.  So  Sir 
Gareth  abided  at  the  castle  of  Sir  Percevant  for  five  days  and 
in  all  that  time  he  saw  nothing  whatsoever  of  the  damsel  Lyn- 
ette;  for  he  lay  in  one  part  of  the  castle  and  she  dwelt  in  Percevant' 
another  part.  Then  at  the  end  of  five  days,  Sir  Gareth  was  well  healed  of 
his  wounds  and  was  in  all  ways  hale  and  strong  to  carry  out  his  further  ad- 
ventures. 

Now  when  those  five  days  aforesaid  were  past,  Sir  Gareth  made  him  ready 
to  depart,  and  Lynette  also  made  herself  ready  to  depart,  and  so  they  took 
their  leave  of  the  castle  of  Sir  Percevant.     And  they  rode  out  through  the 
gateway  of  the  castle  and  into  the  sunlight  that  lay  beyond,  and  it  was  a 
wonderfully  bright  cheerful  pleasant  day  with  all  the  little  birds  singing 
amain  and  the  blossoms  falling  like  snow  whensoever  that  the  wind  blew 
through  the  branches  of  the  apple-trees.     Thus  they  departed  and  after 
that  they  rode  for  a  long  while.     So  they  came  two  or  three  leagues  upon 
their  way,  and  in  that  time  neither  said  anything  to  the  other  but  both 
rode  in  silence.     Then  at  last  Lynette  turned  her  about  and  Sir  Gareth  per- 
ceived that  her  eyes  shone  very  bright.     And  Lynette  said,  "  Sir,  have  you 
anger  against  me? "     Then  Sir  Gareth,  who  was  riding  some  little  distance 
away,  as  he  had  aforetime  done  upon  her  bidding,  came  nearer  to  her  and 
said:  "Nay,  fair  damsel;  why  think  you  that  I  should  anger  have  against 
you?     Have  I  shown  you  any  anger,  that  you  should  say  those  words  to 
me?"     She  said:  "Nay,  Messire,  never  at  any  time  have  you   LyneUenMketh 
shown  anger  toward  me,  but  you  have  ever  been  to  me  all  that  gj£«** s* 
it  was  possible  for  any  noble  and  worthy  knight  to  be  to  a  lady 
who  had  treated  him  with  all  consideration  and  regard,  and  this  you  have 
done  in  spite  of  the  scornful  way  in  which  I  have  treated  you.    And 
have  very  well  perceived  the  manner  in  which  you  have  borne  yourse 
these  several  contests  at  arms  which  you  have  fought,  and 
you  to  be  as  brave  and  haughty  toward  those  knights  who  were  strong  an 
valiant,  as  you  have  been  gentle  and  kind  to  me  who  am  a  wotna  i. 

Then  Sir  Gareth  smiled  and  he  said:  "Lady,  you  make  much t  of  that 
which  is  very  little.  Know  you  not  that  it  behooves  all  true  kmghfc ;  to  be 
gentle  and  patient  with  all  such  as  are  not  so  strong  as  they? 


84  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

in  being  courteous  to  you  I  have  done  naught  except  that  which  I  have  been 
taught  to  do  in  such  a  case.  As  for  those  bitter  words  you  spake  to  me,  I 
may  tell  you  that  any  anger  which  I  might  have  felt  therefor  I  visited  upon 
those  knights  against  whom  I  fought.  For  when  you  gave  me  those  bitter 
words,  then  I  gave  them  bitter  blows  therefor,  and  the  more  you  scorned  me 
the  more  strongly  and  vehemently  did  I  fight." 

Then  Lynette  said :  "  Sir,  you  are  certes  a  very  high,  noble,  and  worthy 
knight,  and  she  unto  whom  you  vouchsafe  to  give  your  belle  regard  that 
lady  will  be  as  fortunate  as  any  of  whom  I  ever  heard  tell.  For  I  believe 
that  it  is  not  possible  for  any  knight  ever  to  have  been  so  tried  as  I  have 
tried  you  for  all  this  while  that  we  have  journeyed  together ;  wherefore,  if 
you  have  proved  yourself  so  worthy  in  this  thing,  how  much  more  will  you 
prove  yourself  worthy  in  those  greater  things  that  shall  in  time  come  unto 
you?" 

So  spake  Lynette  and  thereat  Sir  Gareth  laughed  a  little  and  said :  "  Fair 
damsel,  have  I  now  leave  to  ride  beside  you,  and  is  there  now  peace  betwixt 
us?"  And  Lynette  said,  "Yea,  Messire."  So  therewith  Sir  Gareth  rode 
forward  until  he  was  come  beside  Lynette,  and  from  that  time  forward  there 
was  peace  and  concord  betwixt  them ;  for  Lynette  was  now  as  kind  and 
humble  to  him  as  she  had  been  saucy  and  uncivil  before. 

And  so  as  they  journeyed  together  Lynette  told  Sir  Gareth  many  things 
concerning  the  adventure  which  he  was  entered  upon  that  he  had  not 
The  'oume  known  before.  For  she  told  him  that  this  lady  who  was  her 
together  in  con-  sister  was  night  the  Lady  Layonnesse  and  that  she  was  but 
eighteen  years  of  age.  And  she  told  him  that  the  Lady  Lay- 
onnesse was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ladies  in  the  world,  and  she  told  him 
that  the  lady  was  the  countess  of  a  very  great  and  rich  town,  hight  Grande- 
regarde,  and  of  a  noble  castle  appertaining  to  the  town,  which  same  was  called 
the  Castle  Dangerous.  And  she  told  him  that  the  marches  over  which  the 
Lady  Layonnesse  was  countess  extended  for  several  leagues  upon  this  side 
and  upon  that  side  of  the  town  and  the  castle,  and  she  told  him  that  the 
Knight  of  the  Red  Lands,  who  opposed  her  sister,  was  so  strong  and  so 
doughty  a  knight  that  she  believed  it  would  be  hard  to  find  in  any  part  of 
the  realm  so  powerful  a  knight  as  he.  And  she  said  to  Sir  Gareth :  "  In  good 
sooth,  Messire,  I  have  great  fear  that  you  will  have  sad  ado  to  hold  your 
own  against  this  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands,  foi  as  Sir  Perard  was  greater 
and  bigger  than  those  two  knights  at  the  ford  whom  you  overthrew  so  easily, 
and  as  Sir  Percevant  of  Hind  was  greater  and  biggei  than  Sir  Perard,  so  I 
believe  is  this  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  greater  and  bigger  than  Sir 
Percevant." 


SIR  GARETH  BEHOLDETH  THE  TOWN  OF  GRANDEREGARDE     85 

"  Well,  Lynette,"  quoth  Sir  Gareth,  "  so  far  it  hath  been  that  I  have  had 
success  in  all  my  battles  but  one,  and  in  that  one  I  suffered  no  dishonor.  So 
I  believe  I  may  hope  to  have  a  fair  fortune  with  this  knight  also,  for  wit  you 
that  the  fortunes  of  any  knight  lie  in  the  hands  of  God  and  not  in  man's 
hands,  wherefore  if  it  is  His  will  that  I  fare  well  in  this  undertaking,  then 
shall  I  assuredly  do  so." 

Thus  they  talked  in  great  amity  of  many  things,  and  so  they  travelled 
for  all  that  day  and  the  next  day  and  for  a  part  of  the  day  after  that.  And 
somewhat  early  in  the  morning  of  the  third  day  they  came  to  the  summit 
of  a  certain  highland  whence  Sir  Gareth  beheld  a  great  plain,  well  tilled  and 
very  fertile,  spread  out  beneath  that  high  place  where  he  stood.  And  he 
beheld  that  the  plain  was  very  broad  and  very  long  and  that  in  the  midst 
thereof  there  was  a  hill  and  that  upon  the  hill  there  stood  a  castle  and  that 
behind  the  castle  was  a  town  of  many  fair  and  well-built  houses. 

Then  Lynette  pointed,  and  she  said  to  Sir  Gareth :  "  See  you  that  castle 
and  that  town?  That  castle  is  my  sister's  castle  and  that  town  is  her  town. 
And,  yonder,  beneath  the  walls  of  the  town  and  of  the  castle,  you  may  see 
a  number  of  pavilions  spread  upon  a  considerable  meadow.  Those  are  the 
pavilions  of  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  and  of  the  They  M^  the 
knights  and  esquires  attendant  upon  him.  Forthere  he  keepeth  *™*™?°l! the 
continual  watch  and  ward  over  the  castle  of  my  sister,  so  that 
no  one  may  either  come  out  thereof  or  enter  thereinto  without  his  leave  for 
to  do  so."  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Let  us  go  down  unto  yonder  place." 

So  straightway  they  descended  from  the  highland  into  the  plain,  and  so 
went  forward  upon  their  way  toward  the  town  and  the  castle  of  the  Lady 

Layonnesse. 

Now  as  they  drew  more  nigh  to  that  place  where  the  pavilions  of 
Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  and  of  his  companions  at  arms  had 
spread,  they  went  past  a  great  many  pollard  willow-trees  standing  all  in  a 
row      And  Sir  Gareth  beheld  that  upon  each  tree  there  hung  either  one 
shield  or  two  or  three  shields  and 'that  each  shield ^  ^J^ 
knighthood.     At  that  sight  he  was  greatly  astonished,  and  he  said      Fa 
damsel,  I  prythee  tell  me  what  is  the  meaning  o  this ;  sight  and  why  those 
shields  are  hung  to  yonder  pollard  willow-trees?"    Qu^  Lvnetl 
each  one  of  those  shields  is  the  shield  of  some  knight  wh< 
of  the  Red  Lands  hath  overthrown.     And  some  of  thes< 
slain  in  battle  by  the  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  and 
slain,  but  all  those  who  were  not  slain  have  been  dl^cea^ 
which  they  have  fought.     For  from  each  ^h***?V? 
the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  hath  taken  his  shield 


86  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

hath  sent  him  away  afoot,  unarmed  and  horseless,  wherefore  it  is  thought 
by  some  that  it  were  better  to  have  been  slain  in  battle  than  to  have  suffered 
such  disgrace  as  that." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Certes,  Lynette,  that  must  have  been  a  very 
doughty  champion  to  have  overcome  so  many  knights  as  these.  Now, 
if  it  is  my  fortune  to  overthrow  him  in  that  battle  which  I  am  come  to 
fight  with  him,  then  do  I  believe  I  shall  win  for  myself  more  honor  and 
credit  than  ever  fell  to  any  young  knight  of  my  age  since  first  Sir  Percival 
of  Gales  assumed  his  knighthood." 

So  said  Sir  Gareth,  and  after  that  he  and  Lynette  rode  onward  a  little 
farther  until  they  had  come  to  that  meadow  where  were  the  pavilions  of  the 
Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  and  of  his  knights  companion. 

And  Sir  Gareth  and  the  damsel  rode  straight  through  the  midst  of  those 
pavilions  and  many  knights  and  esquires  came  out  thence  to  see  who  they 
were  who  came  thitherward.  But  ever  Sir  Gareth  and  Lynette  and  the 
dwarf  rode  onward  until  they  had  come  to  the  center  pavilion  of  all  and 
that  was  the  pavilion  of  the  Red  Knight  aforesaid. 

Here  at  this  place  were  several  pages  and  of  one  of  them  Sir  Gareth  de- 
manded where  was  that  Red  Knight.  They  say,  "Sir,  he  is  within  his 
pavilion  resting  after  his  midday  meal."  Sir  Gareth  said,  "Go  ye  and  tell 
him  that  there  is  one  come  who  would  have  speech  with  him." 

So  those  esquires  departed,  and  anon  there  came  forth  the  Red  Knight  from 
his  pavilion,  and  he  was  clad  all  in  a  loose  robe  of  scarlet  silk  trimmed  with 
Sir  Gareth  miniver.  And  Sir  Gareth  looked  upon  him  and  beheld  that  he 
behoideth  the  was  very  big  of  bone  and  thew  and  that  the  hair  of  his  head  and 
his  beard  was  exceedingly  red  and  that  his  countenance  was 
terribly  lowering  and  forbidding. 

Then  the  Red  Knight  when  he  saw  Sir  Gareth,  said,  "  Who  art  thou,  Sir 
Knight,  and  what  is  thy  business  here?"  And  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Messire, 
I  am  one  come  from  King  Arthur's  court  to  take  up  the  quarrel  of  the  Lady 
Layonnesse  of  this  place  and  to  serve  as  her  champion  therein." 

Then  the  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  said:  "Who  are  you?  Are  you  a 
knight  of  repute  and  fame  at  arms? "  and  Sir  Gareth  said:  "  Nay,  Sir,  not  so ; 
for  I  have  only  been  made  knight  fortnight,  and  I  have  but  little  service 
at  arms." 

Then  the  Red  Knight  laughed  very  boisterously  and  said :  "  How  is  this, 
and  what  sort  of  a  green  knight  are  you,  who  dares  to  come  against  me! 
Know  that  I  have  laid  more  than  twoscore  better  knights  than  you  very 
low  in  the  dust." 

Quoth  Sir  Gareth:  "  That  may  very  well  be,  Sir  Knight.     Yet  is  the  fate 


SIR  GARETH  BESPEAKETH   THE  LADY  LAYONNESSE          87 

of  every  one  in  the  hands  of  God  and  so  mayhap  He  will  cause  me  to  over- 
throw you  upon  this  occasion."  And  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Now,  I  pray  you 
that  you  will  let  me  go  up  to  yonder  castle  and  have  speech  with  the  lady 
thereof  and  if  so  be  she  will  accept  me  for  her  champion,  then  will  I  return 
hitherward  immediately  to  do  battle  with  you."  And  the  Red  Knight 
said,  "  Go  and  speak  with  her." 

So  Sir  Gareth  went  up  toward  the  Castle  Dangerous  and  Lynette  went 
with  him.  And  when  they  had  come  pretty  nigh  to  the  castle,  the  lady 
thereof  appeared  at  an  upper  window  and  called  down  to  Sir  Gareth,  saying, 
"  Sir,  who  are  you  and  whence  come  you?  " 

Then  Sir  Gareth  looked  up  and  beheld  the  lady  where  she  stood  at  the 
window,  and  he  beheld  her  face  that  it  was  very  exceedingly  beautiful. 
For,  though  she  had  dark  hair  like  to  Lynette  's,  and  though 
she  had  cheeks  resembling  in  their  clear  whiteness  the  cheeks 


of  Lynette,  and  though  her  lips  were  red  as  coral  like  to 
Lynette  's,  yet  was  she  ten  times  more  beautiful  than  ever  was 
Lynette.  So,  beholding  how  beautiful  she  was,  the  heart  of  Sir  Gareth 
leaped  straightway  up  to  her,  even  as  a  bird  flyeth  upward,  and  there  it 
rested  within  her  bosom. 

Then  Sir  Gareth  said  to  her  :  *  '  Lady,  you  ask  me  who  I  am,  and  I  am  to  tell 
you  that  I  am  one  come  from  King  Arthur's  court  to  serve  you  as  your 
champion  if  so  be  you  will  accept  me  as  such." 

Then  the  Lady  Layonnesse  said,  "  Sir,  are  you  a  knight  of  good  fame  and 
service  ?  '  '     And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Nay,  Lady,  but  only  a  green  knight  very 
little  used  to  arms.     For  I  have  but  been  a  knight  for  these  few  days  and 
though  I  have  fought  several  battles  with  good  fortune  in  that  time,  yet 
know  not  as  yet  what  may  be  my  fate  when  I  meet  such  a  knight  ^as  the  ] 
Knight  of  the  Red  Lands.     Yet  this  is  true,  Lady,  that  though  I  be  but  very 
young  and  untried  at  arms,  yet  is  my  spirit  very  great  for  1 


Lady  Layonnesse  said:  "Sir,  what 
your  degree?  "   And  Sir  Gareth  said  :  "  I  may  not  tell  you 
for  I  will  not  declare  my  name  until  that  my  kindred 
me)  shall  have  acknowledged  me."    ^^ 
is  very  strange,  and  I  am  much  affronted  that 
to  me  from  his  court  a  knight  without  a  name  and 
arms  for  to  serve  as  my  champion.''  And  Sir  Gareth  sad, 

reason  for  it."  •  .  _  T  ,mPttp  whom 

Then  the  Lady  Layonnesse  said,  "Is  not  tha  my  ^ster 
behold  with  thee?"  and  Sir  Gareth  said,     Yea,  baay. 


88  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

"Who  is  this  knight,  Lynette?"  and  Lynette  replied,  "I  know  not,  my 
sister,  saving  only  that  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  he  is  the  noblest 
and  the  haughtiest  and  the  most  worthy  of  all  knights  whom  I  have  ever 
beheld."  "Well,"  quoth  the  Lady  Layonnesse,  "if  thou  dost  thus  vouch 
for  him,  then  upon  thee  be  the  peril  of  my  choosing."  And  Lynette  said, 
"Let  it  be  so." 

Then  the  Lady  Layonnesse  said,  "  Sir  Knight,  I  take  thee  for  my  cham- 

pion."    And  therewith  she  let  fall  from  the  window  where  she  stood  a  fair 

scarf  of  green  samite  embroidered  with  threads  of  gold.     And 

Layonnesse        Sir  Gareth  catched  the  scarf  with  such  joy  that  it  was  as 


ms  ^eart  would  burst  for  happiness.     And  he  wrapped 
the  scarf  about  his  arm,  and  immediately  it  was  as  though 
the  virtue  of  his  strength  had  been  increased  threefold. 

Now  if  so  be  you  would  know  how  Sir  Gareth  sped  in  his  business  with 
the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands,  I  beg  of  you  for  to  read  that  which 
followeth,  for  therein  withal  it  shall  be  immediately  declared. 


Ije  Laby  Layonneese  corned) 
to flje  Pavilion  of  Sir  Gareftjjr 


I  Chapter  Fifth 

How  Sir  Gareth  fought  with  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands 
and  how  it  fared  with  him  in  that  battle.  Also  how  his  dwarf 
was  stolen,  and  how  his  name  and  estate  became  known  and  were 
made  manifest. 

NOW  after  Sir  Gareth  had  received  the  scarf  of  the  Lady  Layonnesse 
as  aforetold,  he  and  Lynette  and  the  dwarf  returned  to  a  certain 
meadow  nigh  to  the  pavilions  where  it  had  been  ordained  that  the 
battle  should  be  held.     There  they  found  that  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red 
Lands  had  made  himself  in  all  ways  ready  for  that  battle.     For  he  was  now 
clad  all  in  armor  as  red  as  blood,  and  in  his  hand  he  bore  a  great  spear  that 
was  also  altogether  red ;  and  on  the  tip  of  the  spear  was  a  red  banneret  that 
was  likewise  as  red  as  blood. 

At  that  field  that  had  been  prepared  for  battle,  there  was  a  great  con- 
course of  people  assembled  and  there  also  the  damsel  Lynette  took  her  stand 
at  a  place  that  had  been  assigned  unto  her ;  and  the  dwarf  Axatalese  was 
near  by  in  attendance  upon  her.  And  there  had  been  a  marshal  of  the  field 
ippointed  to  judge  of  the  battle  that  was  to  be  fought,  and  as  each  knight 
came  to  the  field,  the  marshal  led  him  to  where  he  was  to  take  his  stand— 
which  stand  was  in  such  a  place  as  should  offer  a  fair  course  and  so  that  the 
sun  should  not  shine  into  the  eyes  of  either  of  the  knights  contestant. 

So  when  everything  was  duly  prepared  for  battle  and  when  the  knights 
had  taken  each  his  place  and  when  each  knight  was  in  all  ways  ready  for  the 
course  to  be  run,  the  marshal  cried  out  the  call  to  the  assault.  ^  Thereupon 
each  knight  immediately  leaped  his  horse  away  from  where  it  stood  and 
hurtled  the  one  against  the  other  like  a  whirlwind  with  a  great  thunder  of 
galloping  hoofs.     So  they  came  together  in  a  cloud  of  dust  and  with  a 
terrible  crashing  of  splintered  wood.     For  in  that  .encounter  each  knigh 
shattered  his  lance  into  pieces,  even  to  the  hand  that  held  it,  and  so  violen 
was  the  blow  that  each  gave  the  other  that  both  horses  staggered  bac 
though  they  had  struck  each  against  a  solid  rock  instead  of  against  an 
rider. 


92  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Then  each  knight  voided  his  tottering  horse,  and  each  drew  his  sword, 
and  immediately  they  rushed  together  with  such  eagerness  that  it  was  as 
though  the  lust  of  battle  was  the  greatest  joy  that  the  world  could  have  for 
them.  So  they  fell  to  fighting  with  the  utmost  and  most  terrible  fury,  lashing 
such  blows  that  the  sound  of  the  strokes  of  iron  upon  iron  resembled  the 
continual  roaring  of  thunder. 

So  they  fought  for  so  long  a  while  that  it  was  a  wonder  that  any  man  of 
flesh  and  blood  could  withstand  the  blows  that  each  gave  and  received. 
For  ever  and  anon  the  sword  would  find  its  place  and  upon  such  a  blow 
Of  the  battle  of  some  cantel  of  armor  would  maybe  be  hewn  from  the  body 
Sir  Garetk  with  of  that  knight  who  received  the  stroke.  And  the  book  that 
the  Red  Knight.  teUeth  of  this  battle  sayeth  that  the  side  of  each  knight  was  in 
a  while  made  naked  in  places  because  that  the  armor  had  been  hewn  away 
from  it.  And  it  sayeth  the  armor  of  Sir  Gareth  was  wellnigh  as  red  as  was 
the  armor  of  his  enemy  because  of  the  blood  that  dyed  it  that  ensanguine 
color.  And  the  same  history  says  that  they  were  somewhile  so  bemazed 
by  the  blows  that  they  endured  that  either  would  at  times  seize  the  sword 
of  the  other  for  his  own,  for  it  is  recorded  in  that  history  that  they  fought 
in  that  wise  for  more  than  two  hours  at  a  stretch  without  taking  any  rest 
from  battle. 

But  although  the  battle  continued  for  that  long  time,  yet  by  and  by  their 
blows  waxed  somewhat  faint  and  feeble  compared  to  what  they  had  at  first 
been,  and  each  knight  tottered  upon  his  feet  at  times  because  of  his  weak- 
ness and  loss  of  blood.  So  at  last  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  cried  out 
to  Sir  Gareth:  "Sir  Knight,  stay  thy  hand  and  let  us  rest,  for  I  see  that 
neither  of  us  can  fight  this  battle  to  its  end  as  we  are  now  fighting. "  So  said 
the  Red  Knight,  and  at  that  saying  Sir  Gareth  held  his  hand  and  said,  "  So 
be  it,  Sir  Knight,  as  you  ordain. " 

So  they  stinted  their  fighting  for  that  while  and  they  sat  them  down  to 
rest,  each  upon  a  bank  of  earth.  And  a  page  came  to  the  Red  Knight  of  the 
Red  Lands  and  unlaced  his  helm  and  the  dwarf  Axatalese  did  the  same  for 
Sir  Gareth,  and  the  page  and  the  dwarf  took  each  the  helm  from  off  the  head 
of  his  master,  and  so  they  two  sat  where  the  wind  might  blow  cold  upon  then- 
faces. 

Then  anon  Sir  Gareth  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  he  beheld  where  that  the 
Lady  Layonnesse  stood  at  the  high  window  of  the  castle  aforesaid,  and 
several  of  the  chief  folk  of  the  castle  stood  with  her  at  that  time.  Then  Sir 
Gareth  saluted  the  Lady  Layonnesse  and  when  she  beheld  him  salute  her 
she  cried  out,  in  a  very  shrill  and  piercing  voice :  "  Alas,  Sir  Knight !  Fail  me 
not !  For  whom  have  I  to  depend  upon  but  thee  ? "  So  she  cried  out  in  that 


SIR  GARETH  OVERTHROWETH  THE  RED  KNIGHT 

very  shrill  voice,  and  Sir  Gareth  heard  her  words  even  from  that 

Then  when  he  heard  those  words  his  heart  grew  big  within  him 

and  his  spirit  waxed  light  and  he  called  out,  "  Sir  Red  Knight,  let  us  at  our 

Da  L  Lie  again  I 

Therewith  each  knight  resumed  his  helm  and  when  each  helm  was  laced 
into  place,  Axatalese  and  the  page  of  the  Red  Knight  leaped  aside  and  the 
two  came  together  once  more,  greatly  refreshed  by  that  rest  which  they  had 
enjoyed. 

So  they  fought  for  a  great  while  longer,  and  then  they  had  pause  again  for 
a  little.  Then  Sir  Gareth  perceived  that  the  Red  Knight  was  panting  as 
though  his  bosom  would  burst  and  therewith  he  rushed  at  his  enemy  with 
intent  for  to  smite  him  one  last  blow  and  so  to  end  the  battle.  But  the  Red 
Knight  was  very  wary  and  he  was  expecting  that  assault,  wherefore  he 
quickly  avoided  Sir  Gareth 's  stroke,  and  thereupon  he  himself  launched  an 
overthwart  blow  that  smote  Sir  Gareth  upon  the  hand,  and  upon  that  blow 
the  sword  of  Sir  Gareth  fell  down  out  of  his  hand  into  the  grass  of  the  field. 

Then  the  Red  Knight  leaped  upon  Sir  Gareth  and  he  struck  him  again 
and  yet  again  and  he  struck  him  a  third  time  a  blow  upon  the  helm  and  at 
that  third  blow  the  brains  of  Sir  Gareth  melted  within  him  and  Sir  Gargtk 
he  fell  down  upon  his  knees  and  then  down  to  the  ground  for  fdiethandis 
he  had  not  power  to  stand.     Then  the  Red  Knight  leaped  upon   in  *"* danger' 
Sir  Gareth  and  fell  upon  him  with  intent  to  hold  him  down  so  that  he  might 
finish  with  him  and  Sir  Gareth  could  not  put  him  away. 

But  when  the  damsel  Lynette  beheld  how  that  Sir  Gareth  was  beneath 
his  enemy  and  was  in  danger  of  being  slain,  she  shrieked  out  aloud  in  a  very 
shrill  penetrating  voice,  crying,  "  Alas,  Beaumains!  Do  you  fail  your  lady, 
and  are  you  but  a  kitchen  knave  after  all?" 

Now  Sir  Gareth  heard  those  words,  even  through  the  swooning  of  his 
senses,  and  therewith  it  was  with  him  as  it  had  been  twice  before;  for  as 
he  heard  the  words  there  came  new  strength  into  his  body,  and  with  that  he 
heaved  himself  up  and  cast  the  Red  Knight  from  him.    And  he  leaped  to 
his  feet  and  rushed  to  where  his  sword  lay  in  the  grass.    And  he  catched  up 
his  sword  and  sprang  upon  the  Red  Knight  and  smote  him  a  very  temble 
blow.     And  Sir  Gareth  so  smote  him  again  and  yet  again.    And  he  smote 
him  a  fourth  time  so  woful  a  blow  upon  the  helm  that  the  Red  Kmghl 
down  to  the  earth  and  could  not  rise  again.    Then  Sir  Gareth  sir  Garelh 
fell  upon  the  Red  Knight  and  held  him  where  he  was  upon  the   "%£££* 
ground.     And  he  drew  his  miseracordia  and  cut  the  thongs  °* 
the  helm  of  the  Red  Knight  and  plucked  the  helm  from  off  the  1 
head.     And  he  set  his  miseracordia  to  the  throat  of  the  Red  Km 


94  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

and  with  that  the  Red  Knight  beheld  Death,  as  it  were,  looking  him  in 
the  face. 

Then  all  they  who  were  thereabouts  came  running  to  where  the  two 
knights  lay,  and  they  cried  out  aloud  to  Sir  Gareth,  saying,  "  Sir  Knight ! 
Sir  Knight !  Spare  the  knight  our  champion  and  slay  him  not ! "  And  the 
Red  Knight  said  in  a  voice  very  faint  and  weak,  "  Sir  Knight,  spare  me  my 
life!" 

Then  Sir  Gareth  cried  out,  "  I  will  not  spare  this  knight  unless  he  yield 
him  altogether  to  my  will."  And  the  knight  said,  "  I  yield  me."  And  Sir 
Gareth  said,  "  Still  I  will  not  spare  this  knight  his  life  unless  yonder  damsel 
crave  his  life  at  my  hands." 

Then  Lynette  came  forward  to  where  Sir  Gareth  still  held  his  enemy  to 
earth  and  she  was  weeping  a  very  great  deal.  And  she  said:  "  Brave  Sir 
L  nette  asketh  Beaumains,  be  ye  merciful  as  well  as  powerful  and  spare  this 
for  the  life  of  the  good  worshipful  knight  his  life."  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "So 

Red  Knight.         ^  j  do  ^  thy  demand  » 

Therewith  Sir  Gareth  got  him  up  upon  his  feet  and  the  Red  Knight 
arose  also,  and  so  sore  had  been  their  battle  that  both  knights  had  to  be  held 
upon  their  feet  by  those  who  stood  near  by.  Then  the  Red  Knight  said, 
speaking  in  a  very  weak  and  fainting  voice,  "  Fair  Sir  Knight,  what  are  thy 
commands  upon  me? "  and  Sir  Gareth  said:  "  These  are  my  commands:  that 
so  soon  as  you  shall  be  sufficiently  healed  of  your  hurts  you  and 
teyethhis com-  all  these  your  people  shall  depart  hence  and  take  your  way  to 
mands  upon  the  fae  COurt  of  King  Arthur.  And  my  command  is  that  you  shall 
tell  King  Arthur  that  Beaumains,  the  kitchen  knave,  hath  sent 
you  thither  for  to  pay  your  homage  unto  him.  And  because  you  have  dis- 
honored other  knights  as  you  have  done  by  taking  away  their  shields  and 
horses,  it  is  my  will  that  you  shall  also  be  dishonored ;  for  I  ordain  that  your 
shield  shall  be  taken  away  from  you  and  that  it  shall  be  hung  upon  one  of 
these  willow-trees  where  you  have  hung  the  shields  of  those  knights  whom 
you  have  overcome  in  battle  as  I  have  overcome  you.  And  I  ordain  that 
your  horse  shall  be  taken  away  from  you  and  that  your  armor  shall  be  taken 
away  from  you  and  that  you  shall  travel  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  afoot ; 
for  so  you  have  made  other  knights  walk  afoot  whom  you  have  beaten  in 
battle  as  I  have  beaten  you." 

Then  the  Red  Knight  bowed  his  head  full  low  for  shame  and  he  said: 
"  This  is  a  very  hard  case,  but  as  I  have  measured  to  others  so  it  is  meted 
unto  me,  wherefore,  Messire,  it  shall  be  done  in  all  ways  as  y9U  command." 

Then  Lynette  came  to  Sir  Gareth  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and  set  his 
hand  to  her  lips  and  she  was  still  weeping  at  that  time.  Then  Sir  Gareth 


THE  LADY  LAYONNESSE  INQUIRETH  CONCERNING  SIR  GARETH  95 

smiled  upon  her  and  said,  "  Hah!  Lynette,  have  I  done  well?"  and  Lvne 
still  wept  and  she  said,  with  all  her  weeping,  "Yea,  Messire."    AndTnon 
she  said  :     I  pray  you,  Messire,  that  you  will  go  with  me  up  to  the  castle  of 
my  sister  so  that  you  may  there  be  cherished  and  that  your  wounds  may  be 
looked  to  and  searched  and  dressed/' 

But  to  this  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Not  so,  Lynette;  for  behold  I  am  sorely 
wounded  and  I  am  all  foul  with  the  blood  and  dust  and  sweat  of  battle  and 
so  I  will  be  refreshed  and  made  clean  ere  I  appear  before  that  most  fair  lady 
your  sister.  So  this  night  I  will  lie  in  the  pavilion  of  this  Red  Knight, 
there  to  be  cleansed  of  my  hurts  and  to  be  refreshed.  Then  to-morrow  I 
will  come  up  unto  my  lady  your  sister." 

And  so  it  was  done  as  Sir  Gareth  would  have  it,  for  that  night 


,  I* 

he  lay  in  the  pavilion  of  the  Red  Knight  and  he  was  bathed   P*™*™  of  the 
and  refreshed,  and  a  skilful  leech  came  and  dressed  his  hurts. 
And  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  had  a  guard  of  several  knights  set 
around  about  the  pavilion  so  that  the  repose  of  Sir  Gareth  should  not 
be  disturbed. 

Now  after  that  battle  aforetold  the  damsel  Lynette  betook  her  way  to 
the  castle  of  her  sister,  and  she  entered  into  the  castle  and  there  was  great 
rejoicing  at  her  return.  Then  they  who  first  met  her  said  to  her:  "Thy 
sister  awaiteth  thee  and  she  is  in  that  room  in  a  turret  where  she  keeps  her 
bower."  And  Lynette  said,  "  I  will  go  thither." 

So  she  went  to  that  place  and  there  she  found  the  Lady  Layonnesse,  and 
her  brother  (who  was  Sir  Gringamore)  was  with  her.  And  Lynette  ran  to 
her  sister  and  embraced  her  and  kissed  her.  And  she  said:  "  Save  you,  my 
sister  and  give  you  joy  that  the  champion  whom  I  brought  hither  hath  freed 
you  from  your  enemy." 

The  Lady  Layonnesse  said  :  "  Where  is  that  knight  and  why  hast  thou  not 
brought  him  hither  with  thee  so  that  I  may  render  to  him  my  thanks?  " 

To  this  Lynette  made  reply:  "Sister,  he  hath  been  sore  wounded  in  his 
fight  and  he  is  moreover  so  befouled  with  the  blood  and  dust  of  battle  that 
he  would  not  come  hither  at  this  present  but  lyeth  in  the  pavilion  o: 
Knight  until  the  morrow." 

Then  the  Lady  Layonnesse  said:  "  I  pray  you  tell  us  who  is  this  champic 
who  hath  thus  set  me  free  from  my  oppressor?"  and  Lynette   Ly**eidiitk 
said:  "  That  I  know  not,  only  this  I  may  tell  you:  that  at  the   £grg 
court  of  King  Arthur  there  would  no  knight  undertake  the 
venture  because  I  would  not  declare  your  name  and  youi  "degree  1  etore 
the  King's  court  there  assembled.     Then  there  arose  a  youth  of  whor 


96  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

Kay  made  great  scorn  and  said  that  he  was  a  kitchen  knave  hight  Beau- 
mains  and  the  youth  did  not  deny  that  saying.  And  King  Arthur  gave 
him  leave  to  go  with  me  and  undertake  this  quest,  and  the  youth  did  so. 
So  we  travelled  together.  And  I  was  very  angry  because  I  thought  that 
King  Arthur  had  given  me  a  kitchen  knave  for  my  champion  instead  of  a 
good  worthy  knight,  and  so  I  treated  Beaumains  with  great  scorn,  but  ever 
he  repaid  all  my  scorn  with  very  patient  and  courteous  speeches.  So  he 
followed  me  hither  and  now  he  is  that  champion  who  hath  just  now  over- 
thrown thine  enemy." 

Then  the  Lady  Layonnesse  cried  out,  ' '  What  matters  it  if  this  young 
knight  is  a  kitchen  knave?  Lo!  he  is  my  champion  and  hath  risked  his 
life  for  my  sake.  So  because  he  hath  fought  that  battle  for  me  I  will 
even  raise  kim  up  to  sit  beside  me,  so  that  whatsoever  honors  are  mine, 
they  shall  be  his  honors  also.  For  if  so  be  he  is  now  lowly,  then  by  me 
shall  he  be  exalted  above  the  heads  of  all  you  that  are  hereabouts." 

So  said  the  Lady  Layonnesse,  and  thereat  Lynette  laughed  with  great 
heartiness.  And  when  she  had  ended  her  laughter,  she  said,  "  My  sister, 
I  believe  that  it  shall  not  be  necessary  for  you  to  lift  up  this  young  knight. 
For  if  we  should  come  to  know  who  he  really  is,  it  might  well  be  that  we 
should  discover  that  it  is  he  who  would  exalt  you  rather  than  you  would 
exalt  him.  For  this  champion  can  be  no  such  kitchen  knave  as  he  pretends 
to  be,  but  rather  is  he  some  one  of  great  worth  and  of  high  degree.  For  sev- 
eral days  I  have  so  tried  the  patience  of  this  knight  that  I  do  not  believe  that 
Lynette  defend-  any  one  was  ever  so  tried  before.  But  although  I  so  tried  him 
eth  Beaumains.  very  sorely  he  was  always  passing  patient  and  gentle  with  me. 
Think  you  that  any  kitchen  knave  would  be  so  patient  as  that  ?  Moreover,  I 
have  beheld  this  knight  in  this  short  while  fight  six  battles,  and  always  he 
bore  himself  with  such  haughtiness  and  courage  that  were  he  an  old  and  well- 
seasoned  Knight  of  the  Round  Table  of  the  King  he  could  not  have  proved 
himself  to  be  more  noble  or  more  worthy.  You  yourself  have  beheld  to-day 
how  he  did  battle  against  the  Red  Knight  who  is  certes  one  of  the  greatest 
knights  in  the  world,  seeing  that  he  hath  never  before  been  overcome; 
you  have  beheld  how  he  hath  suffered  wounds  and  the  danger  of  death ; 
think  you  then  that  any  kitchen  knave  could  have  fought  such  a  battle  as 
you  beheld  him  fight?  Nay,  my  sister,  rather  this  young  knight  is  someone 
of  a  very  great  and  high  estate." 

Then  Sir  Gringamore  spake,  saying:  "Lynette  speaketh  very  truly,  my 
sister,  and  in  good  sooth  I  believe  that  this  is  no  kitchen  knave,  but  one  who 
is  sprung  from  the  blood  of  right  champions.  Now  tell  me,  Lynette,  I  pray 
thee,  is  there  no  one  who  knoweth  this  knight  who  he  really  is?"  and  Lyn- 


SIR  GRINGAMORE  AND  LYNETTE  SEIZE  AXATALESE 

ette  replied:    "Yea    there   is  one  who  knoweth  and  that  is  the  dwarf 
Axatalese      He  could  tell  us  who  this  knight  really  is,  for  he  hath  Mowed 
him  for  a  long  time  every  where  he  hath  gone  " 
^  Then  Sir  Grmgamore  bethought  him  for  a  little  while,  and  anon  he  said- 

Meseemeth  it  is  needful  that  we  have  this  dwarf  for  so  only  shall  we  come 
to  know  who  that  knight  is.  Now  thou  and  I  and  Lynette  will  go  down  to 
the  place  of  those  pavilions.  And  thou  shalt  go  to  the  pavilion  of  the  knight 
and  bring  the  dwarf  out  thence,  for  I  doubt  not  he  will  come  at  thy  bidding 
Meantime,  whilst  thou  are  finding  that  dwarf  I  shall  be  hidden  in  some 
secret  place,  and  when  thou  hast  brought  him  near  enough  to  me  I  will 
leap  out  upon  him  and  will  catch  him.  Then  we  will  fetch  him  hither, 
and  it  will  go  hard  but  we  learn  who  this  knight  is." 

So  it  was  done  as  Sir  Gringamore  said ;  for  he  and  the  damsel  Lynette 
went  to  a  place  nigh  to  the  place  of  pavilions  where  there  was  a  hedge.  And 
Sir  Gringamore  hid  him  behind  the  hedge  and  so  after  he  was  hidden 
Lynette  went  alone  to  the  pavilion  of  the  Red  Knight  where  Sir  Gareth  lay. 
Now  at  that  time  they  all  slept,  even  to  the  guard  that  surrounded  the  tent. 
And  so  Lynette  passed  through  their  midst  and  none  heard  her.  And  Lyn- 
ette came  to  the  pavilion  where  Sir  Gareth  lay  and  she  lifted  the  curtain  of 
the  door  of  the  tent  and  looked  within  and  beheld  Sir  Gareth  where  he  lay 
sleeping  upon  a  couch  with  a  night-light  burning  very  faintly  near  by  him. 
And  she  beheld  where  the  dwarf  Axatalese  lay  sleeping  near  to  the  door  of 
the  tent. 

Then  Lynette  entered  the  pavilion  very  softly  and  she  reached  out  and 
touched  Axatalese  upon  the  shoulder  and  therewith  he  immediately  awoke. 
And  Axatalese  was  astonished  at  beholding  the  damsel  at  that  place,  but 
Lynette  laid  her  finger  upon  her  lips  and  whispered  very  low  to  him,  "  Say 
naught,  Axatalese,  but  follow  me."  And  Axatalese  .did  so. 

So  the  maiden  brought  Axatalese  out  of  the  pavilion  and  he  followed  her 
in  silence.     And  she  brought  him  through  the  other  pavilions  and  still  ever 
he  followed  her  in  silence  and  no  one  stayed  them  in  their  going.    So  Axa- 
talese followed  Lynette  and  she  led  him  by  a  path  that  brought  them  out  of 
the  field  where  the  pavilions  were  and  to  that  place  near  by  where  Sir  Grin- 
gamore lay  hidden  behind  the  hawthorn  hedge.    Then  when  Axatalese  was 
come  very  close  to  that  place  Sir  Gringamore  leaped  out  of  a  sudden  from 
thicket  and  catched  him.     And  Axatalese  lifted  up  his  voice  and  fell 
yelling  very  loud  and  shrill,  but  anon  Sir  Gringamore  clapped  his  hanc 
the  mouth  of  the  creature  and  silenced  him.     And  Sir  Gringamore  drew  tas 
miseracordia  and  set  it  at  the  throat  of  Axatalese  and  said  to  him, 
be  silent,  if  you  would  live."    And  at  that  Axatalese  ceased  to  i 


98  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH   OF  ORKNEY 

and  was  perfectly  silent.  Then  Sir  Gringamore  released  his  hand  from  the 
mouth  of  Axatalese  and  Axatalese  was  afraid  to  utter  any  further  outcry. 

So  after  that  Sir  Gringamore  and  Lynette  brought  Axatalese  to  the 
castle  and  into  the  castle.  And  they  brought  him  to  that  place  where 
They  bring  ^e  Lady  Layonnesse  awaited  their  coming.  Then,  when  they 
Axatalese  to  the  were  safely  come  to  that  place,  Sir  Gringamore  said  to  Axal- 
talese,  "  Sirrah  Dwarf,  tell  us  who  is  that  knight,  thy  master, 
and  what  is  his  degree?"  And  Axatalese  cried  out,  "Alas,  Messire,  harm 
me  not."  Quoth  Sir  Gringamore,  "  No  harm  shall  befall  thee,  only  speak  as 
I  bid  thee  and  tell  us  who  thy  master  is." 

Then  Axatalese  trembling  with  fear,  said :  "  Fair  Messire,  the  knight  my 
master  is  hight  Sir  Gareth  and  he  is  the  son  of  King  Lot  of  Orkney  and  the 
Axatalese  tetteth  Queen  Margaise,  the  sister  of  King  Arthur,  and  so  it  is  that  he  is 
of  sir  Gareth.  right  brother  of  those  noble  worthy  champions,  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Sir  Gaheris,  and  he  is  the  brother  of  Sir  Mordred  of  Orkney." 

Now  when  Lynette  heard  the  words  that  Axatalese  spoke  she  smote  her 
hands  very  violently  together  and  she  cried  out  in  a  loud  and  piercing  voice  : 
"  Said  I  not  so  ?  Well  did  I  know  that  this  was  no  kitchen  knave,  but  other- 
wise that  he  was  some  very  noble  and  worthy  knight.  So  he  is,  for  there  is 
none  better  in  all  the  world  than  he.  Rejoice,  my  sister,  for  here  indeed  is 
a  great  honor  that  hath  befallen  thee.  For  this  is  a  very  worthy  champion 
to  have  saved  thee  from  thy  distresses." 

And  the  Lady  Layonnesse  said :  "  Sister,  I  do  indeed  rejoice  and  that  be- 
yond all  measure."  And  she  turned  her  to  Sir  Gringamore  and  said:  "  My 
brother,  let  us  straightway  hasten  and  go  to  this  worthy  knight  so  that  we 
may  give  him  such  thanks  as  is  fitting  for  one  of  his  degree  to  receive." 

"Nay,"  quoth  Sir  Gringamore,  "not  so.  Rather  let  us  wait  until  to- 
morrow and  until  he  has  altogether  rested  himself  from  this  day  of  battle. 
Meantime,  I  will  take  this  dwarf  back  whence  we  brought  him  and  to-mor- 
row we  will  pay  Sir  Gareth  all  due  honor." 

So  it  was  as  Sir  Gringamore  ordained.  For  first  he  took  Axatalese  back 
to  the  place  of  the  pavilions,  and  after  that  they  waited  until  the  morn. 
And  when  the  morn  was  come  Sir  Gringamore  and  the  Lady  Layonnesse 
and  Lynette  went  down  to  that  place  of  the  pavilions  and  to  the  pavilion 
Sir  Gringamore  °^  ^r  Gareth,  an(^  the  Lady  Layonesse  and  the  damsel  Lynette 
payeth  court  to  waited  outside  of  the  tent  and  Sir  Gringamore  entered  thereinto. 
And  Sir  Gringamore  came  to  where  Sir  Gareth  lay  and  he  sa- 
luted Sir  Gareth  saying,  "  Save  you,  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney." 

Then  Sir  Gareth  was  greatly  astonished  and  he  said :  "  How  know  you 
my  name  and  my  degree,  Messire?"  And  Sir  Gringamore  said:  "Sir, 


THE  LADY  LAYONNESSE  GREETETH  SIR  GARETH 

my  sister  the  damsel  Lynette,  and  I,  catched  thy  dwarf  last  night  and 
took  him  away  to  my  sister  s  castle.  There  we  compelled  him  to  tell  us 
who  you  were,  and  so  we  had  knowledge  of  your  name  and  your  con 
dition."  And  Sir  Gringamore  said:  "Sir  Gareth,  we  are  rejoiced  beyond 
measure  that  you  have  so  greatly  honored  us  as  to  come  hither  and  to 
serve  as  the  champion  of  my  sister,  the  Lady  Layonesse.  Now  if  you  will 
suffer  her  to  have  speech  with  you,  she  standeth  without  the  door  of  the 
pavilion."  And  Sir  Gareth  said,  "  Let  her  come  in  for  I  would  fain  see  her 
near  at  hand." 

So  Sir  Gringamore  went  out  of  the  pavilion  and  immediately  he  returned, 
bringing  the  Lady  Layonnesse  and  Lynette  with  him.  And  the  Lady 
Layonnesse  came  and  kneeled  down  beside  the  couch  whereon 
Sir  Gareth  lay.  And  Sir  Gareth  saw  her  face  near  by  and  he 


saw  that  it  was  ten  times  more  beautiful  than  he  had  supposed   conuth  t°  s*r 
it  to  be  when  he  saw  it  from  a  distance  at  the  upper  window 
of  the  Castle  Dangerous  as  aforetold  of.    And  Sir  Gareth  loved  her  from 
that  moment  with  all  his  heart  and  from  that  time  forth  his  love  never  wav- 
ered from  her. 

That  day  they  brought  Sir  Gareth  to  the  castle  in  a  litter  and  Sir  Gareth 
abided  at  the  castle  for  a  fortnight  and  in  that  time  he  was  altogether  healed 
of  his  hurts  that  he  had  got  in  his  battle  with  the  Red  Knight. 

And  ever  Sir  Gareth  loved  the  Lady  Layonnesse  more  and  more  and  ever 
she  loved  him  in  like  manner.  So  they  were  continually  together  and  it  was 
said  of  all  that  heaven  had  never  sent  to  the  earth  two  more  beautiful  young 
creatures  than  they. 

Then  at  the  end  of  that  fortnight  aforesaid,  Sir  Gareth  said:  "Now  it 
behooves  me  to  return  to  the  court  of  the  King  to  proclaim  myself  to  my 
brothers.  For  since  I  have  succeeded  in  overthrowing  the  Red  Knight  of 
the  Red  Lands  and  so  of  achieving  this  adventure,  I  believe  I  am  not  un- 
worthy to  proclaim  my  self  even  unto  my  brothers."  t  t 

So  spake  Sir  Gareth,  and  to  this  the  Lady  Layonnesse  replied:    Sir,  it  is 
indeed  well  that  you  return  to  the  court  of  the  King.     But  when  you  go 
beseech  you  that  you  will  permit  my  brother,  Sir  Gringamore  and 
Lynette,  and  I  myself  for  to  go  with  you.     For  so  you  who  departed  alon 
will  return  with  a  company  of  those  who  love  and  honor  -you. 
said  the  Lady  Layonnesse  for  it  had  come  to  pass  by  this  time 
could  not  bear  to  be  parted  from  Sir  Gareth  even  for  so  sb        *£*£« 
a  while  as  a  few  days.  of  the  King. 

Accordingly,  it  was  done  as  she  said  and  straightway  prep- 
aration  was  made  for  their  departure.     So  the  next  day  they  took  leave 


ioo  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 

of  the  Castle  Dangerous  for  a  while,  betaking  their  way  with  a  considera- 
ble court  of  knights,  esquires,  and  attendants  to  the  King's  court  at  Carleon 
where  the  King  was  at  that  time  still  abiding. 

Now  return  we  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  ere  those  others  shall  come 
thither,  so  that  we  may  see  how  it  befell  at  that  place  after  the  departure 
of  the  kitchen  knave  Beaumains. 

Now  it  hath  been  told  how  that  Sir  Kay  departed  to  follow  after  Beau- 
mains  for  to  have  a  fall  of  him ;  and  it  hath  been  told  how  that  Sir  Kay 
returned  to  court  upon  a  gray  mule ;  and  it  hath  been  told  how  that  Sir  Kay 
was  made  the  mock  and  laughing-stock,  all  because  of  the  misadventure 
that  had  befallen  him. 

After  that  there  passed  five  days,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  there  came 
Sir  Perard  to  the  court  with  the  word  that  Sir  Gareth  had  bidden  him  for  to 
carry  thither ;  to  wit,  that  the  kitchen  knave,  Beaumains,  hath  beaten  him 
in  battle  and  had  sent  him  thither  for  to  pay  his  duty  unto  the  King. 

Then  King  Arthur  said:  "  'Fore  Heaven!     What  sort  of  a  kitchen  knave 

is  this  to  overcome  so  brave  and  well-seasoned  a  knight  as  Sir  Perard? 

,  This  can  be  no  kitchen  knave,  but  rather  is  he  some  youth  of 

zi  ow  the  sever  at 

knights  do  hom-  very  heroic  race  who  hath  been  dwelling  for  all  this  while  un- 
age-  known  in  our  midst,  in  the  guise  of  a  kitchen  knave."  So  said 

the  King.  And  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "  Lord,  I  may  well  believe  that  what  you 
say  is  indeed  the  case." 

Then  two  days  after  Sir  Perard  had  come  to  Carleon  in  that  wise,  there 
came  thither  that  knight  whom  Sir  Gareth  had  saved  from  the  six  thieves. 
And  he  brought  a  very  considerable  court  of  esquires  and  attendants  with 
him;  and  he  also  told  of  the  further  doings  of  Sir  Gareth.  And  when  they 
at  Carleon  heard  those  things,  both  the  King  and  the  court  made  loud  marvel 
and  acclaim  that  Beaumains  should  have  become  so  wonderful  a  champion 
as  to  do  those  things  that  were  told  of  him. 

After  that  there  passed  a  week  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  there  came 
Sir  Percevant  of  Hind  with  a  great  court  of  knights  and  esquires  accom- 
panying him ;  and  he  also  brought  the  same  word  that  Sir  Perard  had  done ; 
to  wit,  that  Beaumains,  the  kitchen  knave,  had  overcome  him  in  battle  and 
had  sent  him  to  the  King's  court  for  to  pay  his  duty  to  the  King.  And  at 
that  King  Arthur  and  all  of  his  court  knew  not  what  to  think  of  a  kitchen 
knave  who  should  do  such  wonderful  works. 

So  passed  a  fortnight  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  there  came  the  Red 
Knight  of  the  Red  Lands,  walking  afoot  and  without  shield  or  armor  but 
surrounded  by  even  a  greater  court  of  knights  and  esquires  than  Sir  Per- 


QUEEN  MARGAISE  COMETH  ±Q 


101 


cevant  had  brought  with  him.  And  he  also  brought  the  same  word  to  the 
King— that  the  kitchen  knave,  Beaumains,  had  overcome  him  and  had  sent 
him  thither  to  pay  his  duty  to  the  King.  And  besides  this  he  told  the  King 
many  things  concerning  this  same  Beaumains  that  the  others  had  not  told; 
to  wit,  how  Beaumains  had  carried  his  adventure  of  the  Castle  Dangerous 
through  to  a  worthy  ending  and  how  that  he  was  even  then  lodging  at  the 
castle  of  the  Lady  Layonnesse  of  Granderegard. 

So  when  King  Arthur  and  his  court  heard  all  these  things,  he  and  they 
wist  not  what  to  think,  but  marvelled  as  to  who  this  extraordinary  young 
champion  was. 

Now  the  day  after  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Lands  had  come  to  Carleon 
as  aforetold,  it  befell  that  there  came  to  the  court  of  the  King  Queen  Margate 
an  herald;  and  the  herald  brought  news  that  Queen  Margaise  cometh  to  court. 
of  Orkney  was  even  the  upon  her  way  for  to  visit  the  King. 

Then  King  Arthur  was  very  glad  that  his  sister  was  coming  thither  for 
he  loved  her  above  all  others  of  his  kin.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  when  the 
day  after  the  next  day  had  come,  Queen  Margaise  reached  the  court  of  the 
King  as  she  had  promised  to  do,  and  the  King  and  the  court  gave  her  royal 
greeting. 

Then  Queen  Margaise  looked  all  about  and  by  and  by  she  said,  "  Where 
is  my  son  Gareth  whom  I  sent  thitherward  a  year  ago? " 

At  that  King  Arthur  was  very  much  astonished,  and  for  a  little  he  wist 
not  what  to  think ;  then  he  said,  "  I  know  of  no  such  one  as  Gareth." 

Upon  this  Queen  Margaise  was  filled  with  anxiety,  for  she  wist  not  what 
to  believe  had  happened  to  her  son.     So  her  color  changed  several  times 
and  several  times  she  tried  to  speak  and  could  not.    Then  at  QueenMar. 
last  she  did  speak,  saying :  "  Woe  is  me  if  harm  should  have  be-  J^£j£* 
fallen  him,  for  certes  he  is  the  very  flower  of  all  my  children.' 

Then  King  Arthur  took  suddenly  thought  of  Beaumains  and  he  said : 
ter,  take  heart  and  look  up,  for  I  believe  that  no  harm  but  rather  great  honor 
hath  befallen  thy  son.     Now  tell  me,  did  he  come  hither  about  the  time  < 
the  feast  of  Pentecost  a  year  ago?"    And  the  Queen  said     Yea       The 
King  Arthur  said:  "  Tell  me,  was  thy  son  fair  of  face  and  had  he > rudd> .ha 
and  was  he  tall  and  broad  of  girth  and  had  he  \*^£™ 
withhim?"     AndtheQueensaid,<<Yea,thatwashe!'     Jhen 
said:  "  He  hath  been  here,  but  we  knew  him  not."    And  the 
44  What  hath  befallen  him?"  ,  jWallen      For 

Then  King  Arthur  told  the  Queen  his  sister  all  **** 
he  told  her  how  that  Gareth  had  come  thither  and  m  ^f 
her  how  Gareth  had  dwelt  all  that  year  unknown  at  the  court 


102  ;£#£  ;SrO#F  .OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 


name  of  Beaumains  because  of  the  whiteness  of  his  hands  ;  and  he  told  her 
how  that  Beaumains  had  gone  forth  upon  that  adventure  to  the  Castle  Dan- 
gerous ;  and  he  told  her  how  he  had  succeeded  in  that  adventure  ;  and  he  told 
her  of  the  several  other  things  that  are  herein  told,  and  ever  Queen  Margaise 
listened  to  him. 

But  when  King  Arthur  had  finished  his  telling  the  Queen  was  very  angry 
and  she  said:  "  Methinks,  my  brother,  that  you  should  have  known  my  son 
for  one  of  high  and  noble  degree,  even  though  he  were  clad  in  green  as  you 
tell  me  and  even  though  he  did  beseech  no  greater  boon  of  you  than  food 
and  drink  and  lodging.  For  certes  there  was  ever  that  in  his  bearing  that 
bespake  better  things  than  these." 

Then  King  Arthur,  speaking  very  mildly,  said:  "My  sister,  how  may  one 

know  another,  his  name  and  his  degree,  only  by  looking  in  his  face?     Yet 

Kin  Arthur      w^  ^ou  t^iat  ^a(^  *  not  thought  there  was  somewhat  high  and 

placates  Queen    noble  about  this  youth  I  had  not  given  him  leave  to  undertake 

this  adventure  in  which  he  hath  succeeded  so  very  gloriously." 

So  spake  King  Arthur,  but  Queen  Margaise  was  hardly  yet  appeased,  nor 
was  she  pacified  for  a  long  time  afterward.  Then,  at  last,  she  was  pacified. 

Now  a  day  or  two  after  this  time  the  King  called  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Gaheris  to  him  and  he  said  to  these  two  :  "  Take  you  a  noble  court  of  knights 
and  gentlemen  and  go  you  forth  and  find  your  brother  and  bring  him  hither 
to  our  court  in  all  such  royal  estate  as  is  befitting  for  such  a  knight  to  enjoy. 
For  of  a  surety  it  will  be  a  great  honor  for  to  have  such  a  knight  amongst  us." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Gaheris  were  much  pleased  that  the  King 
should  so  favor  their  brother,  wherefore  they  fulfilled  that  command  to  the 
full,  for  they  chose  them  such  a  court  as  was  as  noble  as  possible,  and  they 
set  forth  upon  that  journey  as  the  King  had  commanded. 

So  they  travelled  for  one  whole  day  and  for  a  part  of  another  day,  and 
toward  the  afternoon  of  that  second  day  they  beheld  a  great  company  of 
knights  and  lords  and  ladies  ahorseback  coming  toward  them. 
and  Si?  Gaheris  And  many  esquires  and  attendants  accompanied  that  fair 
depart  to  find  sir  company,  and  they  so  shone  with  cloth  of  gold  and  with  many 
jewels  and  with  bright  shining  armor  that  it  bedazzled  the  eyes 
to  look  upon  them.  And  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Geharis  wondered  what  lordly 
company  that  could  be.  And  when  that  company  had  come  nearer,  they 
two  perceived  that  at  the  head  thereof  there  rode  two  knights  in  armor  and 
two  ladies  upon  ambling  palfreys  and  they  saw  that  the  two  ladies  were  very 
beautiful.  And  when  that  company  had  come  still  nearer  Sir  Gawaine  and 
Sir  Gaheris  perceived  that  one  of  those  knights  who  rode  with  the  ladies 
was  none  other  than  him  whom  they  had  aforetime  called  "  Beaumains"; 


SIR  GARETH  BECOMETH  KNIGHT  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE    I03 


d  -me  to  court 

Then  when  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Gaheris  perceived  their  brother  at  the 
head  of  that  company  they  immediately  set  spurs  to  horse  and  rac^  ft 
ward  to  meet  him  with  all  speed  they  could  command     And 
when  they  had  come  to  where  Sir  Gareth  was,  they  leaped  *%£,,„ 
down  from  off  their  horses  and  ran  to  him,  crying  aloud    theway- 
"  Brother,  Brother!"  and  Sir  Gareth  leaped  down  from  his  horse  and  ran 
to  them  and  so  they  kissed  and  embraced  each  other  upon  the  highroad 
weeping  for  joy. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Gareth  was  acknowledged  by  those  two  noble  and 
worthy  knights  -champion,  his  brothers,  and  so  his  kindred  met  him  and 
gave  him  welcome. 

And  now  it  remains  but  few  things  to  say;  for  there  remaineth  only  to 
be  said  that  Sir  Gareth  was  received  at  the  court  with  such 
rejoicings  as  you  may  well  suppose.    And  it  remaineth  to  be 


. 

said  that  at  that  same  time  there  suddenly  appeared  upon  one  Knishtofthe 
of  the  seats  of  the  Round  Table  near  to  the  seat  of  Sir  Launce- 
lot  of  the  Lake  a  name  in  letters  of  gold,  and  the  name  was  this  : 


For  from  that  time  Sir  Gareth  became  a  Knight  of  the  Round  Table,  being 
elected  thereto  in  that  miraculous  way  that  was  usual  in  the  case  of  those 
who  were  chosen  for  that  high  and  worshipful  companionship. 

And  it  remaineth  to  be  told  that  in  a  little  while  Sir  Gareth  was  wedded 
to  the  Lady  Layonnesse  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony  and  that  thereafter 
he  returned  with  her  to  the  Castle  Dangerous  of  which  he  was  now  the  lord. 

And  in  after  times  Sir  Gareth  became  one  of  the  most  famous  of  all  the 
knights  of  the  Table  Round,  so  that  much  is  told  of  him  in  divers  books 
of  chivalry.  Yet  there  shall  be  no  more  told  of  his  adventures  at  this 
place,  albeit  there  may  be  more  said  concerning  him  in  another  book 
which  shall  follow  this  book.  Yet  it  is  to  be  said  that  these  are  the  most 
famous  adventures  that  befel  him,  and  that  the  history  of  Gareth  and 
Lynette  is  the  one  which  is  most  often  told  of  in  stories  and  sung  in 
ballads  and  poems. 

So  endeth  the  Story  of  Gareth  of  Orkney,  which  same  was  told  at  this 
place  in  part  because  it  is  a  good  worthy  history  to  tell  at  any  place,  anc 


104 


THE  STORY  OF  SIR  GARETH  OF  ORKNEY 


in  part  because  that  time  in  which  he  did  battle  with  and  was  knighted  by 
Sir  Launcelot,  as  aforetold,  was  the  only  time  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  seen 
by  any  of  the  court  of  King  Arthur  until  after  he  had  accomplished  the  Ad- 
venture of  the  Worm  of  Corbin. 

For  that  which  f olloweth  dealeth  of  the  adventure  of  the  Worm  of  Corbin 
and  with  how  that  Sir  Launcelot  overcame  that  dragon  and  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair,  who  was  the  mother  of  Sir  Galahad, 
who  was  the  flower  of  all  chivalry.  Wherefore,  if  you  would  know  that  part 
of  the  history  of  Sir  Launcelot  that  relates  to  those  things,  you  must  needs 
read  that  which  is  written  hereinafter. 


PART  HI 

The   Story   of  Sir   Launcelot  and 
Elaine   the   Fair 


"LJERE  followeth  the  history  of  Sir  Launcelot' s  wanderings  and  of  how 
he  came  to  the  town  of  Corbin,  and  of  how  he  slew  the  great  Worm 
of  Corbin  that  for  somewhiles  brought  sorrow  and  death  to  the  folk  of  Cor- 
bin. Here  you  shall  also  read  the  history  of  Elaine  the  Fair,  the  King's 
daughter  of  Corbin,  and  of  how  for  her  sake  Sir  Launcelot  fought  in  the 
tournament  at  Astolat. 

All  these  and  several  other  things  are  herein  duly  set  forth,  so  that,  should 
you  please  to  read  that  which  is  hereafter  written,  I  believe  you  shall  find 
a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and  entertainment  in  that  history. 


0t»Sir  Lanncelot  (jel&  btecoutsc 
merry  Minstrels. 


Chapter  First 


How  Sir  Launcelot  rode  errant  and  how  he  assumed  to 
undertake  the  Adventure  of  the   Worm  of  Corbin. 

ND  now  you  shall  be  told  how  it  befell  Sir  Launcelot  after  that 
he  had  fought  with  Sir  Gareth  and  had  made  him  knight  as  told 
in  the  history  of  Sir  Gareth. 

You  are  to  know  that  after  Sir  Launcelot  left  Sir  Gareth  he  went  his  way 
very  cheerfully,  and  many  times  he  bethought  him  of  how  the  damsel  Lyn- 
ette  had  taken  Sir  Gareth  to  be  a  kitchen  knave,  and  at  that  thought  he 
would  laugh  with  great  joy  of  so  excellent  a  jest. 

So  with  great  cheerfulness  of  spirit  he  rode  ever  onward  upon  his  way, 
whilst  the  daylight  slanted  farther  and  farther  toward  sunset.    And,  after 
awhile,  the  sun  sunk  in  the  West,  and  the  silence  of  the   sir  Launcelot 
twilight  fell  like  to  a  soft  mantle  of  silence  upon  the  entire   rideth  errant 
earth.      The  darkness  fell,  the  earth  melted  here  and  there  into  shadow 
and   every  sound  came  very  clear  and  loud  as  though  the  bright  and 
luminous  sky  that  arched  overhead  was  a  great  hollow  bell  of  crystal 
that  echoed  back  every  sudden  noise  with  extraordinary  clearness. 
Sir  Launcelot  was  both  hungry  and  athirst  and  he  wist  not  where  he 
might  find  refreshment  to  satisfy  the  needs  of  his  body. 

So,  thinking  of  food  and  drink,  he  was  presently  aware  of  the  light  of  ? 


io8    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

fire  shining  in  the  gray  of  the  falling  twilight  and  thitherward  he  directed 
his  way,  and  in  a  little  pass,  he  came  to  where  there  was  a  merry  party 
of  strolling  minstrels  gathered  around  about  that  bright 
meeteth  the  and  cheerful  fire.  Some  of  these  fellows  were  clad  in  blue 
strolling  and  some  in  yellow  and  some  in  red  and  some  in  green  and 

minstrels.  .  .    J  .  ° 

some  in  raiment  pied  of  many  colors.  And  all  they  were 
eating  with  great  appetite  a  savory  stew  of  mutton  and  lentils  seasoned 
with  onions  and  washed  down  with  lusty  draughts  of  ale  and  wine  which 
they  poured  forth,  ever  and  anon,  from  big  round-bellied  skins  into  horns 
and  cups  that  were  held  to  catch  it. 

These  jolly  fellows,  beholding  Sir  Launcelot  coming  to  them  through 
the  dusk,  gave  him  welcome  with  loud  voices  of  acclaim  and  besought 
him  to  descend  from  horseback  and  to  eat  with  them,  and  Sir  Launcelot 
was  right  glad  to  do  so. 

So  he  dismounted  from  his  horse  and  eased  it  of  its  saddle  and  turned 
it  loose  to  browse  as  it  listed  upon  the  grass  of  the  wayside.  And  he  laid 
aside  his  shield  and  his  spear  and  his  sword  and  his  helmet  and  he  sat 
him  down  with  those  minstrels  and  fell  to  eating  and  drinking  with  might 
and  main.  And  the  minstrels  bade  him  to  take  good  cheer  and  to  eat  and 
drink  all  that  he  desired  and  Sir  Launcelot  did  so. 

Then,  after  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  minstrels  had  supped  their  fill,  those 
lusty  fellows  brought  forth  other  skins  of  wine  and  filling  again  the  several 
cups  and  flagons  they  all  fell  to  drinking  and  making  merry.  And 
The  minstrels  several  of  the  minstrels  brought  forth  lutes  and  others  brought 
chaunt.  forth  viols,  and  anon  he  who  was  the  chief  minstrel  called 

upon  one  to  stand  forth  and  sing,  and  that  fellow  did  so,  chaunting  a  rondel 
in  praise  of  his  sweetheart's  eyes.  After  that,  another  sang  of  battle  and 
still  another  sang  in  praise  of  pleasant  living;  meantime  the  others  ac- 
companied, with  lute  and  viol,  those  who  sang,  and  Sir  Launcelot  listened 
to  their  music  with  great  pleasure  of  heart. 

All  about  them  lay  the  deep  silence  of  the  moonlit  night  with  only  that 
one  red  spot  of  fire  and  of  cheerful  mirth  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  the  fire 
shone  very  bright  upon  the  armor  of  the  knight  and  lit  up  all  those  quaint 
fellows  in  red  and  green  and  yellow  and  blue  and  pied  so  that  they  stood 
forth  against  the  blackness  behind  them  as  though  they  had  been  carved 
out  from  it  with  a  sharp  knife. 

Then  he  who  was  chief  among  the  minstrels  said  to  Sir  Launcelot,  "  Mes- 
sire,  will  ye  not  also  sing?"  At  this  Sir  Launcelot  laughed,  and  quoth 
he:  "Nay,  good  fellows,  I  cannot  sing  as  ye  do,  but  I  will  tell  ye  a  story 
an  ye  list  to  hear  me." 


S!R  LAUNCEWT  MAKETH  MERRY  WITH 

At  that  they  all  cried  out  to  tell  them  that  stm 
so,  telling  then,  a  certain  goodly  conte  StT 
loved  a  lady,  but  she  loved  neither  of  them,  having  set  her 
heart  upon  an  esquire  of  low  degree.     So  of  these  two  knights  the  c 
became  an  hermit  and  the  other  by  force  of  his  knighthood  brought  it  to 
pass  that  the  esquire  was  exalted  from  his  squirehood  to  become  a  £nl 
But  when  the  esquire  became  a  king  the  lady  would  have  none  of  him  but 
turned  her  love  to  the  knight  who  had  exalted  him  to  his  high  estate 
So  the  lady  left  the  esquire  who  was  king  and  married  the  noble  knight 
who  had  made  him  king,  and  so,  having  made  choice  of  the  greatest  and  the 
noblest  of  all  the  three,  she  dwelt  happily  with  him  to  the  end  of  her  life 
To  this  the  minstrels  listed  in  silence  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  finished 
they  gave  him  great  applause  without  measure. 

After  that  the  minstrels  sang  again  and  Sir  Launcelot  told  them  another 
tale  of  chivalry;  and  so  with  good  cheer  the  night  passed  pleasantly  away 
until  the  great  round  moon,  bright  and  full  like  to  a  bubble  of  shining 
silver,  floated  high  in  the  sky  above  their  heads,  very  bright  and  as  glorious 
as  day  and  bathing  all  the  world  in  a  flood  of  still  white  light,  most  won- 
derful to  behold. 

Then  perceiving  it  to  be  midnight,  Sir  Launcelot  bestirred  himself, 
and  he  said:  "Good  fellows,  I  thank  ye  with  all  my  heart  Sir  Launcelot 
for  the  entertainment  ye  have  given  me,  but  now  I  am  re-  would  leave 
freshed  I  must  go  again  upon  my  way." 

To  this  he  who  was  chief  among  the  minstrels  said:  "Sir  Knight,  we 
would  fain  that  you  would  remain  with  us  to-night  and  would  travel  with 
us  upon  our  way  to-morrow,  for  indeed  you  are  the  pleasantest  and  cheer- 
fulest  knight  that  ever  we  met  in  all  of  our  lives." 

At  this  Sir  Launcelot  laughed  with  great  good  will,  and  he  said:  "Good 
fellows,  I  give  you  gramercy  for  your  fair  regard.  Ye  are  indeed  a 
merry  company  and  were  I  not  a  knight  methinks  I  would  rather  be  one 
of  your  party  than  one  of  any  other  company  that  ever  I  fell  in  with. 
But  it  may  not  be,  for,  lo!  I  am  a  knight  and  I  must  e'en  go  about  my 
business  as  becometh  one  who  weareth  spurs  of  gold.  So  here  and  now  we 
part.  Ne'theless  you  may  haply  do  me  one  service,  and  that  He  asketh  of 
is  to  tell  me  whether  anywhere  hereabout  is  to  be  found  an  J  ""* 

adventure  such  as  may  beseem  a  knight  of  good  credit  to  undertake. 
Upon  this  one  of  those  minstrels  spake  saying:  "Messire,  I  know  wh< 
there  is  an  adventure,  which,  if  you  achieve  it,  will  bring  you  such  gre 
credit  that  I  believe  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  himself  would 
greater  credit  than  you." 


no    THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

At  this  Sir  Launcelot  laughed  with  great  good  will.  "Well,"  quoth  he, 
"  I  would  not  be  overbold,  yet  this  I  may  say,  that  anything  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake  might  not  fear  to  undertake,  that  also  I  shall  not  fear  to  assume, 
and  whatever  he  might  find  strength  to  do  that  also  I  may  hope  to  ac- 
complish. For  indeed  I  may  tell  ye  that  I  hold  myself  to  be  altogether 
as  good  and  worthy  a  knight  as  ever  is  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake.'* 

"Ha!"  quoth  the  chief  minstrel,  "I  perceive,  Sir  Knight,  that  thou 
hast  a  very  good  opinion  of  thyself.  Now,  were  Sir  Launcelot  here,  haply 
thou  wouldst  not  venture  to  reckon  thyself  so  high  as  thou  now  dost." 

At  that  all  those  minstrels  laughed  in  great  measure,  and  Sir  Launcelot 
laughed  with  them  as  loud  as  any.  "  Good  fellows,"  said  he,  "I  believe 
I  reckon  myself  to  be  no  better  than  another  man  born  of  woman,  yet 
this  I  have  to  say  :  Oftentimes  have  I  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  and  sometimes 
have  I  contended  against  his  will,  but  never  at  any  time  have  I  found 
him  to  be  stronger  or  worthier  than  am  I  myself.  But  let  us  not  debate 
so  small  a  matter  as  this.  Let  us  instead  learn  what  is  that  adventure 
concerning  which  yonder  good  fellow  hath  to  advise  us." 

"Messire,"  quoth  the  minstrel,  "have  ye  ever  heard  tell  of  the  Worm 
of  Corbin?" 

"Nay,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "but  tell  thou  me  of  it." 

"Sir,"  said  the  minstrel,  "I  will  do  so.  You  are  to  know  that  some 
ways  to  a  considerable  distance  to  the  eastward  of  this  place 
there  is  a  very  large  fair  noble  town  hight  Corbin;  and  the 


Worm  of  King  of  that  country  is  King  Pelles.     Now  one  time  it  chanced 

that  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay  and  the  Queen  of  North  Wales 
were  upon  a  visit  to  Corbin,  and  whilst  they  were  there  there  was  given 
in  that  place  a  great  jousting  and  feast  in  their  honor. 

"Whilst  King  Pelles  sat  at  table  with  the  two  queens  (all  of  his  court 

and  his  daughter  Elaine  the  Fair  being  with  him)  there  came  into  the  pa- 

vilion where  the  feast  was  held  a  wonderfully  fair  damsel,  tall  and  straight 

and  clad  from  top  to  toe  in  flame-colored  satin.     In  her  hand 

Of  the  damsel        -       -  '    f     M  -  .  .,  ,  . 

who  came  to       she  bare  a  paten  of  silver  and  upon  the  paten  was  a  napkin, 


*the  Kin  °*        anc*  on  ^e  napkin  there  was  a  wonderful  ring  of  gold  set  with 
a  clear  blue  stone.     And  the  damsel  spoke  in  a  voice  both 
high  and  clear,  saying:  'Lords  and  Ladies,  here  have  I  a  ring  that  may 
only  be  worn  by  the  fairest  and  worthiest  lady  in  this  room/ 

"  At  these  words,  as  you  may  suppose,  there  was  a  great  deal  of  wonder 
and  much  expectation,  and  a  great  deal  of  talk.  For  some  said  that  one 
lady  should  by  rights  have  that  ring  and  some  said  that  another  lady 
should  have  it. 


THE  MINSTREL  TELLETH  OF  THE  WORM  OF  CORBIN 


IH 


honor  of  her.     So  she  took  the  ring  in  her  hand  and  essayed 

to  pass  it  upon  her  finger,  but  lo!  it  would  not  pass  the  first   *»"•  **•  ™t- 

joint  thereof. 

"  At  that  Queen  Morgana  was  filled  with  wrath,  but  still  she  dissembled 
her  anger  and  sat,  waiting  to  see  what  would  next  befall 

"So  after  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay  had  thus  failed  to  wear  that  ring,  the 
Queen  of  North  Wales  said  unto  herself,  'Haply  King  Pelles  may  intend 
this  ring  for  me/     So  she  also  took  the  ring  and  would  have 
placed  it  upon  her  finger,  but  lo!  it  grew  so  large  that  it  would  Q^!  North 
not  stay  where  it  was  placed,  but  fell  off  upon  the  table  before  Waiu  tryeth 
the  whole  court  of  the  King.  the  ™* 

"At  this  many  who  were  there  laughed  aloud,  and  thereat  the  Queen 
of  North  Wales  was  filled  with  anger  and  mortification  as  much  as  Queen 
Morgana  le  Fay  had  been.  But  she  also  dissembled  her  anger  before  the 
court  and  sat  to  watch  what  would  befall. 

"  So  after  these  two  queens  had  so  essayed,  several  others  of  the  ladies 
who  were  there  each  tried  to  put  the  ring  upon  her  finger,  but  no  one 
could  do  so,  for  either  it  was  too  large,  or  else  it  was  too  small.  Then 
last  of  all  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair,  the  King's  daughter,  essayed  the  ad- 
venture of  the  ring,  and  lo  !  it  fitted  her  as  exactly  as  though  it  had  been 
made  for  her. 

"At  this  both  of  those  two  queens  aforesaid  were  more  angered  than 
ever,  for  each  said  to  herself,  'Certes,  this  King  hath  done  this  to  put 
affront  upon  us/  So  that  night  they  communed  together  what  they 
should  do  to  punish  King  Pelles  of  Corbin  and  the  Town  of  Corbin  for 
that  affront  which  they  deemed  themselves  to  have  suffered. 

"Now  the  next  morning  those  two  queens  quitted  the  court,  and  as 
they  and  their  attendants  passed  by  the  market-place  of  the  town  they 
perceived  where  there  lay  a  great  flat  stone  that  marked  the  centre  of  the 
town.     Then  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay  cried  out:  'See  ye  yon- 
der  stone!     Beneath  that  slab  there  shall  breed  a  great  Worm 
and  that  Worm  shall  bring  sorrow  and  dole  to  this  place  ten    up<m  the 
thousand  times  more  than  the  shame  which  I  suffered  here   **"•• 
yesterday.     For  that  stone  shall  be  enchanted  so  that  no  man  may  lift 
And  beneath  that  stone  the  Worm  shall  live;  and  ever  and  anon  n 
come  forth  and  seize  some  fair  young  virgin  of  this  town  and  shall  bear  I 
away  to  its  hiding-place  and  shall  there  devour  her  for  its  food 

"So  it  was  as  the.  Queen  said,  and  now  that  Worm  dwelleth  at  Corbm 


ii2    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

beneath  the  stone,  and  ever  bringeth  sorrow  and  death  to  that  place.  And 
it  cometh  out  only  at  night,  so  that  the  terror  of  the  Worm  of  Corbin  is 
greater  than  it  would  otherwise  be,  for  no  eye  hath  ever  beheld  it  in  its 
comings  and  its  goings.  So  if  any  champion  shall  achieve  the  death  of 
that  Worm,  he  shall  be  held  to  have  done  a  deed  worthy  of  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake  himself." 

"Friend,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "thou  sayest  true  and  that  were  indeed 
a  most  worthy  quest  for  any  knight  to  undertake.  As  for  me,  I  am  so 
eager  to  enter  upon  that  quest  that  I  can  hardly  stay  my  patience." 

With  this  saying,  Sir  Launcelot  rose  from  where  he  sat ;  and  he  whistled 
his  horse  to  him  and  when  his  horse  had  come  to  where  he  was  he  put  the 
saddle  upon  its  back.  And  he  took  his  shield  and  spear  in  his  hand  and 
mounted  upon  his  charger  and  made  him  ready  to  leave  that  place. 

But  ere  he  departed,  the  chief  minstrel  and  several  others  came  to  him, 
and  the  chief  minstrel  laid  his  hand  upon  the  horse's  neck  and  he  said: 
"  I  pray  you,  Messire,  tell  us  who  you  are  who  have  seen  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake  so  often  and  who  declare  yourself  to  be  as  good  a  knight 
as  he." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  laughed  and  he  said:  "Good  friend,  I  am  riding  er- 
rant as  you  behold.  In  these  my  travels  I  would  fain  withhold  my  name 
from  the  knowledge  of  men.  Nevertheless,  since  we  have 
eaten  and  drunk  together,  and  since  we  have  cohabited  in 
£°°d  fellowship  together,  I  will  tell  you  that  I  myself  am  that 
very  Sir  Launcelot  whom  ye  appear  to  hold  in  such  high  re- 
gard. Wherefore  it  is  that  I  am,  certes,  as  good  as  he  could  possibly  be, 
let  that  be  saying  much  or  saying  little." 

So  saying,  Sir  Launcelot  set  spurs  to  his  horse  and  rode  away  and  left 
them  astonished  at  his  words.  And  long  after  he  had  left  those  merry 
fellows  he  could  hear  their  voices  in  the  distance  babbling  together  very 
loud  with  wonder  that  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  had  been  amongst  them 
for  all  that  time  without  any  one  of  them  suspecting  him  who  he  was.  For 
by  this  time  all  the  world  knew  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  to  be  the  greatest 
champion  that  ever  the  world  had  seen  from  the  very  beginning  unto  that 
time. 

After  that,  Sir  Launcelot  rode  forward  upon  his  way  toward  the  east- 
ward through  the  moonlit  night,  and  by  and  by  he  entered  a  great  space 
of  forest  land.  And  somewhile  after  he  had  entered  that  woodland  the 
summer  day  began  to  dawn  and  all  the  birds  began  at  first  to  chirp  and 
then  to  sing  very  blithely  and  with  a  great  multitude  of  happy  voices  from 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  COMETH  TO  CORBIN  II3 

out  01  every  leafy  thicket.     Then  up  leapt  the  jolly  sun  and  touched  all 
the  upper  leafage  of  the  trees  and  turned  them  into  gold. 

And  anon  the  sun  rose  high  and  higher  and  when  it  was  very  high 
in  the  heavens  Sir  Launcelot  came  out  of  the  forest  into  an  open  coun- 
try of  level  meadows  and  of  pasture-lands.     And  in  the  midst  of  that 
place,  a   great  way  off,  he  beheld  where  there  was  a  fair 
walled  town  set   upon   a  hill  with  a  smooth  shining  river  ^ZhddSk* 
at   its   foot,  and  he   wist   that   this   must  be  the  Town  of  Corbin' 
Corbin  of  which  the  strolling  minstrels  had  told  him  the  night  before. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  forward  and  drew  near  the  town.  And  as  he  drew 
closer  to  it  he  thought  that  this  was  one  of  the  fairest  towns  that  ever  he 
had  beheld  in  all  of  his  life.  For  the  castle  of  the  town  and  the  houses  of 
the  town  were  all  built  else  of  stone  or  else  of  brick,  and  a  thousand  win- 
dows sparkled  in  the  brightness  of  the  day,  shining  like  to  stars  in  heaven. 
And  the  river  that  flowed  beside  the  town  wound  down  between  fair  green 
meadows  which  lay  upon  either  side,  and  betwixt  banks  of  reeds  and 
rushes  and  pollard  willows,  and  it  was  like  to  a  great  serpent  of  pure  silver 
lying  in  the  grass.  The  walls  of  the  castle  and  the  walls  of  the  town  came 
down  to  the  river,  and  stood  with  their  feet,  as  it  were,  in  the  clear  and 
crystal-bright  water,  and  there  were  trees  that  overhung  the  water  upon  this 
side  and  upon  that,  and  there  was  a  bridge  with  three  arches  that  crossed 
over  the  river  and  led  to  the  town.  All  these  things  Sir  Launcelot  beheld 
and  so  it  was  that  the  town  appeared  exceedingly  pleasant  to  his  eyes. 

Now  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  come  pretty  close  to  the  town  he  met  a 
party  of  town-folk  with  several  pack-mules  hung  with  bells  sir  LaunceM 
and  laden  with  parcels  of  goods.     These  Sir  Launcelot  be-  ££** 
spoke,  saying,  "  I  pray  ye,  fair  folk,  tell  me,  is  this  the  Town 
of  Corbin?"     Thereunto  they  replied,  "  Yea,  Sir  Knight,  this  is  that  town. 
Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Why  are  ye  so  sad  and  downcast?"  ^  Whereunto 
chief  of  that  party-a  right  reverend  man  with  a  long  white  beard-m 
reply:  "Sir  Knight,  wherefore  do  you  ask  us  why  we  are  sad 
come  you  that  you  have  not  heard  how  we  are  cursed  m  this   own  by 
Worm  that  torments  us  very  grievously;  and  how  is  i ^ 
heard  tell  how  that  Worm  devoureth  every  now  and  then  a 
from  our  midst?"  - 

"Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "I  have  indeed  ^. 
bringeth  you  so  much  woe  and  dole.    Know  ye  that 
very"  Worm  that  I  have  come  hither.     For  Ipmpoj, 
with  me,  to  destroy  that  vile  thing  and  so  t. 
that  lies  upon  you!" 


ii4    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

"Alas,  Sir  Knight,"  quoth  the  old  man,  speaking  very  sorrowfully,  "I 
do  not  doubt  that  you  are  possessed  of  all  the  courage  necessary  for  this 
undertaking,  yet  for  all  that  you  may  not  hope  to  succeed  in  your  quest. 
For  even  if  you  were  able  to  slay  the  Worm,  yet  you  could  not  come  at  it. 
For  you  are  to  know  that  it  lyeth  beneath  a  great  stone  and  that  the  stone 
is  sealed  by  magic  which  Queen  Morgana  le  Fay  set  upon  it  so  that  no  man 
may  raise  it  from  where  it  lyeth." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  spoke  words  of  good  cheer  to  that  old  man  and  to 
his  companions,  saying:  "  Let  that  be  as  it  may,  yet  for  all  that  ye  need 
not  despair  of  succor.  Know  ye  not  that  naught  can  be 
speaketh™  achieved  until  it  first  be  essayed?  As  for  that  enchantment 
™°rdsof  that  lyeth  upon  the  stone,  I  tell  ye  this:  Behold  this  ring 

which  I  wear  upon  my  finger!  It  is  sovereign  against  all 
magic  whatsoever,  wherefore  I  know  that  the  spells  which  bind  this  stone 
into  its  place  cannot  prevail  against  the  counter  magic  of  this  ring.  So 
ye  shall  be  well  assured  that  I  shall  lift  that  stone,  and  after  that,  when 
it  shall  be  lifted  and  when  it  shall  come  to  battle  betwixt  me  and  that 
Worm,  then  shall  the  issue  lie  altogether  with  God,  His  Grace  and  Mercy." 

Now  when  those  who  were  there  heard  what  Sir  Launcelot  said,  their 
hearts  were  filled  with  hope  and  joy,  for  it  seemed  to  them 
Lancelot  that  here  indeed  might  be  a  champion  who  should  deliver 
them  out  of  their  distresses.  Wherefore  when  they  heard 
his  words  they  presently  lifted  up  their  voices  in  loud  acclaim, 
some  crying,  "God  be  with  you!"  and  some  crying,  "God  save  you  from 
destruction!"  some  crying  this,  and  some  crying  that. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  smiled  upon  them  and  said,  "  Save  you  good  people," 
and  therewith  set  spurs  to  flank  and  rode  away. 

But  many  of  those  who  were  there  went  with  him,  running  beside  his  horse, 
seeking  to  touch  him  and  even  to  touch  the  horse  which  he  rode.  And 
all  the  time  they  gave  him  loud  acclaim  without  measure  and  without  stint. 

For  the  virtue  of  Sir  Launcelot  went  forth  from  him  like  a  shining  light 
wherefore  it  seemed  to  them  that  here  was  one  who  should  certainly  free 
them  from  the  curse  that  lay  upon  them. 

And  thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  rode  across  that  three- 
spanned  bridge  and  into  the  Town  of  Corbin  and  so  to  his  adventure  with 
the  Worm  of  Corbin. 


it  Launcelo  t  slay  eflj  fl?eWcr  m 

Cotbim 


Chapter  Second 

How  Sir  Launcelot  slew  the  Worm  of  Corbin,  and  how  he  was 
carried  thereafter  to  the  Castle  of  Corbin  and  to  King  Pelles  and  to 
the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair. 

SO  thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  entered  the  town  of  Corbin  to 
slay  the  Dragon  that  lay  beneath  the  stone.     And  with  his  com- 
ing a  great  multitude  gathered  very  quickly,  hurrying 
from  all  sides,  crying  out  and  blessing  him  as  he  rode  forward    22^ of 
upon  his  way.      And  ever  a  great  roar  of  voices  sounded    ™komeSir 
all  about  him  like  to  the  noise  of  many  waters. 

So,  upborn  by  that  multitude,  Sir  Launcelot  went  forward  very  stead- 
fastly toward  the  market-place  of  the  town,  in  the  midst  of  which  lay 
that  great  stone,  aforetold  of,  with  the  Worm  beneath  it.    And 
when  he  had  reached  the  place,  he  bade  the  multitude  abide    S^th^ 
where  they  were.  P1**  °f the 

So,  upon  that  command,  the  people  stood  afar  off,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  went  forward  alone  to  where  was  the  slab  of  stone.  And  he 
looked  down  upon  the  slab  and  beheld  that  it  was  very  flat  and  wide 
and  so  big  that  three  men  might  hardly  hope  to  lift  it.  Besides  this,  he 
beheld  that  it  had  been  sealed  by  magic  as  had  been  reported  to  him,  for 
many  strange  letters  and  figures  had  been  engraved  into  the  face  of  the 
stone. 

Now  you  are  to  remember  that  it  was  aforetold  of  in  the  "  Book  of  the 
Champions  of  the  Round  Table"  that  Sir  Launcelot  wore  upon  his  finger 
a  ring  which  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  had  given  him  when  he  quitted  the 
Lake ;  and  you  all  remember  that  that  ring  was  of  such  a  sort  that  he  who 
wore  it  might  dissolve  all  evil  magic  or  enchantment  against  which  he 
should  direct  his  efforts.  Wherefore  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  aware, 
as  he  had  already  told  the  people  outside  of  the  walls  of  the  town,  that  he 
might  lift  that  stone  even  if  another,  because  of  the  magic  that  was  upoi 
it,  should  not  be  able  to  stir  it  where  it  lay. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  put  aside  his  sword  and  his  shield  and  he  went  form 


n8    THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

to  the  slab  and  he  seized  the  slab  in  both  of  his  hands.  And  he  bent  his 
back  and  lifted,  and  lo !  the  bands  of  enchantment  that  lay  upon  the  stone 
were  snapped  and  the  slab  moved  and  stirred  in  the  bed  wherein  it  lay. 

Then  when  the  multitude  of  the  people  who  gazed  upon  him  beheld  the 
Sir  Launcelot  s^a^  ^ow  ^  move(^  anc^  stirred  in  its  bed,  a  great  shout  went 
Hfteth  the  up  from  several  thousand  lips  like  to  one  mighty  voice  of  out- 
cry. Therewith  Sir  Launcelot  bent  again  to  the  stone  and 
heaved  with  all  his  might.  And  lo!  he  lifted  the  stone  and  he  raised  it 
and  he  rolled  it  over  upon  the  earth. 

Then  he  looked  down  into  the  hole  that  was  beneath  the  stone  and  he 
was  aware  that  there  lay  something  in  the  hole  that  moved.  And  anon 
he  beheld  two  green  and  glassy  eyes  that  opened  upon  him  and  looked  up 
at  him  from  out  of  the  hole ;  and  he  beheld  that  those  eyes  were  covered 
over  as  with  a  thin  film  to  shelter  them  from  the  dazzling  light  of  the  day- 
time. And  as  Sir  Launcelot  gazed  he  beheld  that  that  thing  which  lay 
within  the  hole  began  to  crawl  out  of  the  hole,  and  Sir  Launcelot  beheld 
that  it  was  a  huge  worm,  covered  all  over  with  livid  scales  as  hard  as  flint. 
And  the  Worm  lifted  the  fore  part  of  its  body  to  the  height  of  a  tall  man 
and  gaped  very  dreadfully  with  a  great  mouth  an  ell  wide,  and  all  glisten- 
ing with  three  rows  of  white  and  shining  teeth.  And  Sir  Launcelot  be- 
held that  the  Worm  had  as  many  as  a  thousand  feet,  and  that  each  foot 
was  armed  with  a  great  claw  like  the  claw  of  a  lion,  as  hard  as  flint,  and 
very  venomous  with  poison.  And  the  Worm  hissed  at  Sir  Launcelot. 
And  its  breath  was  like  the  odor  of  Death. 

Such  was  that  dreadful  terrible  Worm  that  lay  beneath  the  stone  at 
The  Worm  Corbin.  And  when  the  people  of  the  town  saw  it  thus  appear 
of  Corbin  before  them  in  the  broad  light  of  day,  they  shrieked  aloud 
cometh  forth.  ^^  ^  terror  of  ^at  ^^{Q^  they  beheld.  For  it  was  like  to 

something  that  had  come  to  life  out  of  a  dreadful  dream,  and  it  did  not 
seem  possible  that  such  a  thing  should  ever  have  been  beheld  by  the  living 
eyes  of  man. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  beholding  the  Worm  in  all  its  terror  leaped  to  where 
was  his  sword  and  he  seized  his  sword  in  both  hands  and  he  ran  at  the 
Worm  and  lashed  at  it  a  blow  so  mighty  that  it  might  easily  have  split 
an  oak  tree.  But  the  scales  of  the  Worm  were  like  adamant  for  hardness 
wherefore  the  stroke  of  the  sword  pierced  them  not  but  glanced  aside 
without  harming  the  creature. 

Then  when  the  Worm  felt  itself  thus  smitten,  it  hissed  again  in  a  manner 
very  terrible  and  loud,  and  it  reached  out  toward  Sir  Launcelot  and  strove 
to  catch  him  into  the  embrace  of  a  hundred  of  its  sharp  claws.  But  Sir 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  FIGHTETH   THE  WORM  OF  CORBIN         119 

Launcelot  sprang  aside  from  the  embraces  of  the  Worm  and  he  smote  it 
again  and  again,  yet  could  not  in  any  wise  cut  through  the  scales  that 
covered  its  body.  And  at  every  blow  the  Worm  hissed  more  terribly  and 
sought  to  catch  Sir  Launcelot  into  its  embraces. 

Thus  for  a  long  time  Sir  Launcelot  avoided  the  Worm,  but,  by  and  by 
it  came  to  pass  that  he  began  to  wax  faint  and  weary  with  „. 
leaping  from  side  to  side,  weighed  down  as  he  was  with  his  £eth  bOfiie  * 
armor.  So,  at  last,  it  befell  that  the  Worm  catched  Sir  Launce-  with  the  Worm' 
lot  in  the  hook  of  one  of  its  claws,  and  thereupon  they  who  looked  on  at 
that  battle  beheld  how  in  a  moment  it  had  embraced  Sir  Launcelot  in  sev- 
eral hundred  of  its  claws  so  that  his  body  was  wellnigh  hidden  in  that 
embrace.  And  the  Worm,  when  it  so  held  Sir  Launcelot  in  its  embrace, 
tore  at  him  with  its  claws  and  strove  to  bite  him  with  its  shining  teeth. 
And  anon  it  catched  its  claws  in  the  armor  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  it  tore 
away  the  epaulier  upon  the  left  side  of  Sir  Launcelot's  shoulder,  and  it  tore 
away  the  iron  boot  that  covered  his  left  thigh,  and  it  cut  with  its  claws 
through  the  flesh  of  the  left  shoulder  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  through  the  flesh 
of  his  thigh  to  the  very  bone,  so  that  the  blood  gushed  out  in  a  crimson 
stream  and  ran  down  over  his  armor  and  over  the  claws  of  the  Worm. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot,  finding  himself  as  it  were  thus  in  the  very  embrace 
of  Death,  put  forth  all  his  strength  and  tore  away  free  from  the  clutches 
of  the  Worm  ere  it  was  able  to  do  him  further  harm.  And  seeing  how  that 
the  case  was  now  so  ill  with  him,  he  catched  the  haft  of  his  sword  in  both 
of  his  hands,  and  he  rushed  at  the  creature  and  he  stabbed  with  his  sword 
into  the  gaping  mouth  of  the  creature  and  down  into  its  gullet  so  that 
the  cross-piece  of  the  sword  smote  against  the  teeth  of  the  creature's  mouth. 

Then  when  the  Worm  felt  that  dreadful  terrible  stroke  driven  thus  into 
its  very  vitals,  it  roared  like  a  bull  in  its  torments,  and  it  straightway  rolled 
over  upon  the  ground  writhing  and  lashing  the  entire  length  of  its  body, 
bellowing  so  that  those  who  heard  it  felt  the  marrow  in  their  bones  melt 
for  terror. 

But  Sir  Launcelot,  looking  down  upon  the  lashings  of  the  Worm,  be- 
held where  there  appeared  to  be  a  soft  place  nigh  to  the  belly  and  beneati 
the  scales  of  the  back  and  sides,  and  therewith  he  rushed  at  the  Worm 
and  plunged  his  sword  twice  and  thrice  into  that  soft  spot,  whereupon,  1< 
thick  blood,  as  black  as  ink,  gushed  forth  after  those  strokes.  sir 
Then  again  Sir  Launcelot  pierced  the  Worm  twice  and  thrice 
in  such  another  place  and  thereafter  it  presently  ceased  to 
bellow  in  that  wise  and  lay  shuddering  and  writhing  in  death,  rust 
dry  scales  upon  the  earth  in  its  last  throes  of  life. 


120    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND   ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  his  work  was  done  and  he  stood  leaning 
upon  his  sword,  panting  and  covered  all  over  with  the  blood  and  slime  of 
that  dreadful  battle.  And  the  people  beholding  how  that  the  Worm  was 
now  slain,  fell  to  shouting  aloud  beyond  measure.  And  they  came  run- 
ning from  all  sides  to  that  place  like  to  a  flood  so  that  they  filled  the  entire 
market-place.  And  they  crowded  around  and  gazed  upon  the  Worm  with 
horror,  and  they  gazed  upon  Sir  Launcelot  in  wonder  that  Heaven  should 
have  sent  so  wonderful  a  Champion  to  save  them  out  of  their  distresses. 
And  ever  Sir  Launcelot  stood  there  leaning  upon  his  sword  panting  and 
with  the  blood  flowing  down  from  his  shoulder  and  his  thigh  so  that  all 
that  side  of  his  body  was  ensanguined  with  shining  red. 

So  as  he  stood  there,  there  came  a  party  of  knights  riding  into  that 
place.  These  thrust  their  way  through  the  multitude  to  where  Sir  Launce- 
lot was  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd  as  aforesaid.  When  they 
of  Cortin  do  had  come  to  Sir  Launcelot  the  chief  of  those  knights  said, 
honor  to  Sir  «  ${T  art  thOu  he  who  hath  slain  the  Worm? "  Sir  Launcelot 

L&uncelot. 

said,  "Thou  seest  that  I  am  he."  Then  he  who  spoke  to  Sir 
Launcelot  said,  "Messire,  I  fear  me  you  are  sorely  hurt  in  this  battle." 
Quoth  Sir  Launcelot:  "  I  am  hurt  indeed,  but  not  more  hurt  than  I  have 
been  several  times  before  and  yet  live  as  you  behold  me." 

Then  those  knights  went  and  looked  upon  the  Worm  where  it  lay  and 
they  gazed  upon  it  with  wonder  and  with  loathing.  And  they  gave  great 
praise  beyond  measure  to  the  knight  who  had  slain  it. 

After  that  they  sent  for  a  litter  and  they  laid  Sir  Launcelot  upon  the 
litter  and  bare  him  away  into  the  Castle  of  Corbin  where  King  Pelles  of 
Corbin  was  then  holding  his  court  in  royal  pomp  of  circumstance.     And  ; 
they  brought  Sir  Launcelot  to  a  fair  chamber  of  the  castle  where  a  number  of 
attendants  came  to  him  and  eased  him  of  his  armor  and  led  him  to  a  bath 
of  tepid  water  steeped  with  healing  herbs.     And  there  came  a  skilful 
leech  and  searched  the  wounds  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  spread  soothing  un-  ( 
guents  upon  them  and  bound  them  up  with  swathings  of  linen.     And  af- 
ter that  they  bare  Sir  Launcelot  to  a  fair  soft  couch  spread  with  snow-  j 
white  linen  and  laid  him  thereon,  and  he  was  greatly  at  ease  and  much 
comforted  in  body. 

Then  after  all  this  was  done  in  that  wise,  there  came  King  Pelles  of  Cor- 
bin to  that  place  for  to  visit  Sir  Launcelot,  and  with  him  came  his  son, 
Sir  Lavaine,  and  his  daughter,  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair.  And  Sir 
Launcelot  beheld  that  King  Pelles  was  a  very  noble  haughty  lord,  for  his 
beard  and  his  hair  were  long  and  amplelike  to  the  mane  of  a  lion,  and 
resembled  threads  of  gold  sprinkled  with  threads  of  silver.  And  he  was 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  BEHOLDETH   THE  LADY  ELAINE  I2I 

clad  aU  in  a  robe  of  purple  studded  over  with  shining  jewels  and  he  wore 

a  fillet  of  gold  about  his  head  set  with  several  gems  of  great 

price.      Upon  the  right  hand  of  King  Pelles  there  came  his 

son,  Sir  Lavaine — a  very  noble  young  knight,  newly  created 

by  the  bath— and  upon  his  left  hand  there  came  his  daughter,  to  Sir  Launcelot' 

the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  looked  upon  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  and  it  seemed 
to  him  that  she  was  the  most  beautiful  maiden  that  ever  he 
had  beheld  in  all  of  his  life.     For  he  saw  that  her  hair  was  soft  Bate  at?* 
and  yellow  and  shining  like  to  the  finest  silk ;  that  her  eye-  Fair' 
brows  were  curved  and  very  fine,  as  though  they  had  been  marked  with 
a  sharp  and  delicate  pencil ;  that  her  eyes  were  very  large  and  perfectly 
blue  and  very  lustrous,  and  as  bright  as  precious  jewels ;  that  her  forehead 
was  like  cream  for  whiteness ;  that  her  cheeks  were  like  roses  for  softness 
of  blush;  that  her  lips  were  like  coral  for  redness,  and  that  betwixt  her 
lips  her  teeth  were  white,  like  to  pearls  for  whiteness. 

Such  was  the  Lady  Elaine,  as  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  her,  and  he  was 
amazed  at  her  surpassing  beauty,  and  at  the  tender  grace  of  her  virgin 
youth. 

Then  King  Pelles  and  Sir  Lavaine  and  the  Fair  Elaine  came  close  to 
where  Sir  Launcelot  lay  upon  his  couch,  and  there  they  kneeled  them 
down  upon  the  ground.  And  King  Pelles  spake,  saying:  "Messire,  what 
thanks  shall  we  find  fit  to  give  to  you  who  have  freed  this  entire  land  from 
the  dreadful  curse  that  lay  upon  it? "  "  Lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  thank 
not  me  but  give  your  thanks  to  God  whose  tool  and  instrument  I  was  in 
this  undertaking."  "Messire,"  quoth  King  Pelles,  "I  have  not  forgot 
to  give  thanks  to  God.  Nevertheless  seeing  the  instrument  which  He 
hath  fitted  to  His  hand  is  so  perfect  an  instrument,  one  may  praise  that 
also.  So  we  do  praise  you  and  give  thanks  from  our  heart  to  you 
for  the  deliverance  which  you  have  brought  to  us.  Now  I  pray  you  tell 
me  who  you  are  who  have  brought  this  great  succor  to  our  state,  for  me- 
thinks  you  must  be  some  famous  hero,  and  I  would  fain  thank  you  in 
your  own  name  for  what  you  have  done  to  benefit  us." 

"  Lord,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "  this  you  must  forgive  me  if  I  tell  you  not 
my  name.  For  there  is  supposed  to  be  shame  upon  my  name,  wherefore 
I  am  now  known  as  le  Chevalier  Malfait,  because  in  the  eyes  of  those  to 
whom  I  am  accountable  I  have  done  amiss." 

"Well,"  quoth  King  Pelles,  "  I  dare  be  sworn  you  have  not  at  any  time 
done  greatly  amiss  in  that  which  you  have  done.  Nevertheless  an  you 
will  have  it  so,  so  it  shall  be  as  you  will,  and  with  us  all  of  this  place  you  shall 


122    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND   ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

be  known  as  le  Chevalier  Malfait  until  such  time  as  it  pleases  you  to  as- 
sume your  proper  name  and  title." 

Thus  I  have  told  you  all  the  circumstances  of  that  famous  adventure 
Sir  Launceiot  °^  ^e  Worm  of  Corbin  and  there  remaineth  now  only  this  to  say : 
lyeth  sick  in  That  Sir  Launceiot  did  not  recover  from  his  hurt  as  soon  as 


he  had  supposed  he  would.  For  the  venom  of  the  Dragon 
had  got  into  his  blood,  wherefore  even  after  a  twelvemonth  had  gone  by, 
he  still  remained  in  the  castle  of  King  Pelles  at  Corbin,  albeit  he  was  by 
that  time  quite  healed  in  his  body. 

And  also  there  is  this  to  tell — that  at  the  end  of  the  twelvemonth  afore- 
said, King  Pelles  came  to  Sir  Launceiot  and  said  to  him:  "  Messire,  I  would 
that  you  would  henceforth  dwell  with  us  at  this  court.  For  not  only 
would  you  be  a  great  credit  to  any  court  in  which  you  live,  but  here  we 
all  love  you  as  one  loveth  the  apple  of  his  eye." 

"Lord,"  said  Sir  Launceiot,  "ye  cannot  love  me  more  than  I  love  ye 
Sir  Launceiot  a^  w^°  ^ave  been  so  good  to  me  in  the  days  of  my  sickness 
remaineth  at  and  disease.  So  I  will  be  exceedingly  rejoiced  to  remain 
Corbin.  with  ye  yet  a  while  longer;  for  this  is  indeed  a  pleasant 

haven  in  which  to  rest  in  the  long  and  toilsome  journey  of  life,  and  I  have 
nowhere  else  to  go." 

Then  King  Pelles  took  Sir  Launceiot  into  his  arms  and  kissed  him  upon 
the  brow  and  so  they  became  plighted  in  friendship  unto  one  another. 

So  Sir  Launceiot  remained  at  Corbin  and  went  not  any  farther  errant  i 
at  that  time. 

But  meantime,  and  for  all  that  while,  there  was  great  wonder  at  the 
court  of  King  Arthur  whither  Sir  Launceiot  had  gone  and  what  had  be- 
come of  him  that  no  one  in  all  of  the  world  heard  tell  aught  of  him. 


ir  Launcelot  confibef^  fyi 
Shield  to  Elaine  fljc  Fair : 


Chapter  Third 


How  King  Arthur  proclaimed  a  tournament  at  Astolat,  and  how 
King  Pelles  of  Corbin  went  with  his  court  thither  to  ' that  place. 
Also  how  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  had  encounter  with  two 
knights  in  the  highway  thitherward. 

NOW  it  fell  upon  a  time  that  King  Arthur  proclaimed  a  great  tour- 
nament to  be  held  at  Astolat,  upon  Lady's  Day  Assumption. 
And  the  King  sent  word  of  this  tournament  throughout  all  the 
land,  both  east  and  west  and  north  and  south.     So  it  came   R.    Arthur 
about  that  word  of  the  tournament  was  brought  one  day  by   proclaimed  a 
herald  to  King  Pelles  at  Corbin,  and  when  this  news  came  to   tournament- 
him  he  ordained  that  his  court  should  make  them  ready  to  go  to  Astolat  to 
that  passage  of  arms,  in  pursuance  of  the  word  that  the  herald  of  King 
Arthur  had  brought  to  Corbin. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  much  troubled  in  his  mind  for  he  said  to  him- 
self, "  I  fear  me  that  if  I  go  unto  Astolat  with  this  court  there  may  be  some 
one  there  who  will  know  me."  For  Sir  Launcelot  was  still  very  bitterly 
affronted  at  his  kinsmen  because  that  they  had  chid  him  so  sir  Launcelot 
greatly  for  the  manner  in  which  he  had  ridden  in  a  cart  upon  is  troubled" 
that  adventure  to  rescue  Queen  Guinevere  as  aforetold  of.  For  the  pride 
of  Sir  Launcelot  was  stiff  and  stubborn  and  he  could  not  bring  himself 
to  bend  it  or  to  break  it.  Neither  could  he  bring  himself  to  overlook  such 
an  affront  as  that  which  he  had  suffered  from  the  words  that  Sir  Lionel 
and  Sir  Ector  de  Marishad  said  to  him.  Wherefore,  until  full  justification 
had  been  rendered  unto  him,  he  was  unwilling  that  any  of  his  former  com- 
panions should  behold  him  or  know  him  who  he  was. 

Yet  did  he  not  see  how  he  could  refuse  to  obey  the  behest  of  King  Pelles, 
for  as  he  was  now  become  a  knight  of  the  court  of  the  King  of  Corbin  he 
was  bound  to  obey  whatsoever  that  King  should  command  him  to  do. 
Wherefore  he  wist  not  what  to  do  in  this  case,  and  so  was  much  troi 
in  mind. 


126    THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

Now  King  Pelles  was  aware  how  it  was  with  le  Chevalier  Malfait  and  that 
Kin  Pelles  ^e  was  ^wi^g  to  g°  to  t^ie  tournament  at  Astolat.  So  one 
taiketh  with  day  the  King  took  Sir  Launcelot  aside  and  he  said  to  him : 
Sir  Launcelot.  «  Messire,  will  you  not  also  go  with  our  court  to  this  tourna- 
ment that  King  Arthur  hath  proclaimed?" 

To  this  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "  Lord,  I  would  rather  that  I  did  not  go/' 

King  Pelles  said:  "  Sir  Knight,  far  be  it  from  me  to  urge  you  to  go  if  it 
be  greatly  against  your  wishes ;  yet  you  are  to  know  that  it  will  be  a  very 
sad  thing  for  all  of  us  if  you  do  not  go  with  us.  For  it  is  the  truth  that 
you  are,  beyond  all  others,  the  foremost  of  our  court,  and  its  most 
bright  and  shining  light;  wherefore  it  will  be  sad  for  us  if  we  go  thither 
without  you." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  looked  very  steadfastly  at  King  Pelles  and  his  heart 
went  out  toward  the  King  and  he  said,  "  Do  you  then  desire  my  company 
so  very  greatly? "     King  Pelles  said,  "  Yea."     "  Well,"  said  Sir  Launcelot 
"let  it  be  so  and  I  will  go  with  you."     And  at  that  saying  King  Pell* 
was  glad  beyond  measure. 

So  when  the  time  came  Sir  Launcelot  made  him  ready  to  go  with  tl 
others  to  Astolat,  and  when  the  day  of  departure  arrived  he  went  wi1 
them. 

Thereafter  they  travelled  by  easy  stages  toward  Astolat,  and  upon  the 
third  day  after  their  departure  from  Corbin  they  came  to  the  castle  of  a 
certain  Earl,  which  castle  stood  about  three  leagues  or  a  little  more  from 
the  town.  This  Earl  was  a  kinsman  of  King  Pelles  and  in 
great  amity  with  him,  wherefore  he  was  glad  to  have  the; 
journey  to  King  and  his  court  to  lodge  with  him  at  that  time.  And 
they  of  Corbin  were  also  glad,  for  this  was  a  very  noble  ex- 
cellent place  in  which  to  lodge  and  all  the  other  castles  and  inns  nigh  to 
Astolat  were  at  that  time  very  full  of  folk. 

So  it  came  about  that  King  Pelles  and  his  court  remained  several  days 
at  that  place,  and  in  all  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  kept  himself  ever  in  re- 
treat, lest  some  one  with  whom  he  was  acquainted  should  chance  to  see 
him  and  know  him  who  he  was.  To  this  end,  and  that  he  might  conceal 
himself,  Sir  Launcelot  was  most  often  with  the  court  of  the  Lady  Elaine 
the  Fair  and  not  often  with  the  court  of  the  King. 

Now  the  Lady  Elaine  was  not  very  well  pleased  with  this,  for  she  held  Sir 
Launcelot  in  great  admiration  above  all  other  men,  and  she  would  fain 
have  had  him  stand  forth  with  the  other  knights  who  were  there,  so  that 
his  nobility  might  be  manifested  amongst  them.  So  one  day  whilst  they 
two  sat  together  in  the  garden  of  the  castle  of  that  Earl  (the  court  of  the 


THE  LADY  ELAINE   BESPEAKETH  A   SERVICE  I2? 

Lady  Elaine  and  several  lords  of  the  King's  court  being  near  by  playing 
at  ball)  the  Lady  Elaine  spake  her  mind  to  Sir  Launcelot 
upon  this  point  saying:  "Fair  Sir,  will  you  not  take  part  in 
this  noble  and  knightly  tournament  the  day  after  to-morrow? "   Sir 

To  this  Sir  Launcelot  replied,  "  Nay,  Lady."  ** together' 

She  said  to  him:  "Why  will  you  not  so/Messire?  Methinks  with  your 
prowess  you  might  win  yourself  very  great  credit  thereat." 

Then  for  a  little  Sir  Launcelot  was  silent,  and  after  a  little  he  said  to  her: 
"  Lady,  do  you  disremember  that  I  call  myself  le  Chevalier  Malfait?  That 
name  I  have  assumed  because  my  friends  and  my  kinsmen  deem  that  I 
have  done  amiss  in  a  certain  thing.  Now,  since  they  are  of  that  opinion 
I  am  very  greatly  displeased  with  them,  and  would  fain  avoid  them  until 
I  am  justified  in  their  sight.  At  this  tournament  there  will  be  many  of 
those  who  knew  me  aforetime  and  I  would  fain  avoid  them  if  I  am  able 
to  do  so.  Wherefore  it  is  that  I  am  disinclined  to  take  part  in  the  battle 
which  the  King  hath  ordained." 

After  this  they  were  silent  for  a  little,  and  then  by  and  by  the  Lady 
Elaine  said :  "  Sir  Knight  Malfait,  I  would  I  knew  who  you  really  are  and 
who  are  your  fellows  of  whom  you  speak."  At  that  Sir  Launcelot  smiled 
and  said:  "Lady,  I  may  not  tell  you  at  this  present  who  I  am  nor 
who  they  are,  but  only  that  they  are  very  good  worthy  knights  and 
gentlemen."  "Aye,"  quoth  the  Lady  Elaine,  "that  I  may  very  well 
believe." 

So  at  that  time  no  more  was  said  concerning  this  matter  but  ever 
the  mind  of  the  Lady  Elaine  rested  upon  that  thing— to  wit,  that  Sir 
Launcelot  should  take  part  in  that  tournament  aforesaid.  So  at  another 
time  when  they  were  alone  together,  she  said:  "  Sir  Knight  Malfait,  I  would 
that  thou  wouldst  do  me  a  great  favor."  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  Lady,  ask 
whatsoever  thou  wilt,  and  if  it  is  in  my  power  to  do  that  thing,  and  if  it 
is  according  to  the  honor  of  my  knighthood,  then  I  shall  assuredly  do 
whatsoever  thou  dost  ask  of  me." 

"Sir,"  quoth  the  Lady  Elaine,  "this  is  what  I  would  fain  ask  of  thee 
if  I  might  have  it.  It  is  that  thou  wouldst  suffer  me  to  purvey  thee  a  suit 
of  strange  armor  so  that  thy  friends  might  not  know  thee  therein,  and 
that  thou  wouldst  go  to  the  tournament  disguised  in  that  wise.  And  I 
would  that  thou  wouldst  wear  my  favor  at  that  tournament  so  that  I 
might  have  glory  in  that  battle  because  of  thee." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  sighed  very  deeply,  and  he  looked  steadfastly  at  tte 
Lady  Elaine,  and  he  said:  "Lady,  you  know  not  how  great  a  thing  it  is 
you  ask  of  my  pride,  for  I  would  fain  remain  unknown  as  I  am  at  this 


128    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND   ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

present.  And  you  know  not  what  it  is  you  ask  of  my  knighthood,  for 
wit  ye  it  must  be  against  my  one-time  friends  and  companions-in-arms 
that  you  would  have  me  contend.  So  it  is  that  if  I  should  have  success 
in  such  an  affair  as  this,  whatsoever  credit  I  should  win  therein  shall  bring 
discredit  unto  them.  Moreover,  I  must  tell  you  that  never  in  all  of  my 
life  have  I  worn  the  favor  of  any  lady,  having  vowed  my 
will  take  part  knighthood  to  one  who  is  a  queen  and  the  wife  of  a  king. 
tournament  Natheless,  though  all  this  is  so,  yet  far  be  it  from  me  to  re- 
fuse a  boon  when  it  is  you  who  ask  it  of  me.  For  I  speak 
the  truth,  Lady,  when  I  say  that  I  would  freely  lay  down  my  life  at  your 
bidding.  So  in  this  case,  maugre  all  that  I  have  said,  I  will  even  do  as 
you  ask  me,  wherefore,  if  you  will  purvey  me  that  armor  of  which  you 
speak,  I  will  do  your  will  in  all  ways  that  I  am  able." 

So  spake  Sir  Launcelot,  and  thereat  the  Lady  Elaine  smiled  upon  him 
in  such  wise  and  with  such  great  loving-kindness  that  it  was  as  though 
both  her  joy  and  her  great  love  stood  revealed  in  the  midst  of  that  smile. 
Quoth  she:  "Assuredly  I  shall  gain  great  honor  and  glory  at  thy  hands. 
For  I  believe  that  thou  art  indeed  one  of  the  very  greatest  and  foremost 
knights  in  all  of  the  world,  as  well  as  the  perfect  peer  of  all  noble  gentle- 
men." 

Now  the  Earl,  the  lord  of  that  castle,  had  a  son  hight  Sir  Tyre,  who  was 
then  lying  abed,  ill  of  a  flux,  and  the  armor  of  Sir  Tyre  was  at  that  place. 
So  the  Lady  Elaine  went  to  the  Earl  and  she  besought  him  to  lend  her 
that  armor  for  the  use  of  Sir  Launcelot,  and  the  Earl  listened  to  her  and 
gave  it  to  her. 

So  she  had  the  armor  of  Sir  Tyre  brought  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  thus 
the  Lady  Elaine  purveyed  him  in  all  wise  for  that  tournament  so  that  no 
one  might  know  him  who  he  was. 

Then,  after  all  this  had  been  accomplished,  the  Lady  Elaine  came  to  the 

chamber  where  Sir  Launcelot  was,  and  her  brother  Sir  La- 

Eiaine  gweth      vaine  was  with  her.     And  the  Lady  bore  in  her  hand  a  sleeve 

*Sir  5Launceiot      °^  fiame-c°l°red  satin  very  richly  bedight  with  many  pearls 

of  great  price.     And  she  said  to  Sir  Launcelot:  "I  beseech 

you  to  take  this  sleeve,  Sir  Knight,  and  I  beseech  you  that  you  wear  it  as 

a  favor  for  my  sake." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  smiled  very  kindly  upon  the  Lady  Elaine  and  he 
said,  "Will  this  give  you  pleasure?"  and  she  said,  "Yea."  Then  Sir 
Launcelot  smiled  again  and  he  said,  "  It  shall  be  in  all  things  as  you  will 
have  it."  So  he  took  the  sleeve,  and  he  wound  it  about  the  crest  of  the 
helmet  he  was  to  wear  at  the  tournament,  and  the  sleeve  formed  a  wreath 


SIR   LAUNCELOT   WEARETH   THE  FAVOR   OF  ELAINE         129 

of  satin  about  the  helmet  like  to  a  wreath  of  fire.  And  the  pearls  upon 
the  wreath  were  like  to  drops  of  dew  as  you  behold  them  of  an  early  morn- 
ing. Wherefore  because  of  the  brightness  of  that  wreath  and  because  of 
the  pearls  upon  it,  the  favor  of  the  Lady  Elaine  was  of  such  a  sort  that  all 
the  world  could  not  but  see  it  what  it  was.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot  accepted 
the  favor  of  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair. 

Then  after  Sir  Launcelot  had  thus  accepted  that  favor,  Sir  Lavaine 
spake  and  said:  "  Sir  Knight  Half  ait,  I  beseech  you  that  you  will  take  me 
with  you  unto  this  tournament  as  your  knight-companion.  For  I  believe 
that  in  your  company  I  shall  assuredly  gain  me  great  honor  and  much 
glory  and  renown,  wherefore  I  ask  of  you  that  you  will  grant  me  this  great 
courtesy." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  looked  upon  Sir  Lavaine  and  smiled  upon  him  and 
loved  him  exceedingly,  and  he  said  to  Sir  Lavaine:  "Friend, 

!    T  Sir  Launcelot 

I  will  gladly  accept  thee  as  my  companion-in-arms,  and  1  accepteth  sir 
believe  in  very  sooth  that  it  would  be  hard  for  me  to  find  Lavaine  as  his 

•/  .  companion. 

any  one  whom  I  would  be  better  pleased  to  have  with  me  at 

such  a  time."     And  so  it  was  that  Sir  Lavaine  also  had  his  will  with  Sir 

Launcelot. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  him  to  the  Lady  Elaine  and  said,  "Lady, 
see  you  this  shield  and  this  armor  of  mine?"  And  she  said,  "Yea,  I  see 
them." 

Sir  Launcelot  said:  "Lady,  this  shield  is  a  very  precious  thing  to  me, 
for  it  and  all  mine  armor  was  given  to  me  by  a  very  wonderful  lady  who 
is  not  of  this  world  in  which  we  mortals  dwell.  Since  that  time  she  gave 
mine  armor  to  me  I  have  sought  ever  and  in  all  wise  to  use  those  defences 
as  became  a  gentleman  so  that  whatever  mark  of  battle  there  should  be 
upon  them  there  should  be  no  mark  of  dishonor  to  mar  their  brightness. 
Now  I  beseech  you  for  to  take  this  shield  and  that  armor  to  your  maiden 
bower  and  to  hold  them  there  in  trust  for  me  and  that  as  sacredly  as 
though  they  were  your  very  life."  Therewith  Sir  Launcelot  gave  the 
Lady  Elaine  his  shield  and  he  said:  "  I  charge  you,  Lady  for  to  let  r 
one  touch  this  shield  or  to  meddle  with  it  until  I  return  hither  to  reclain 
it  and  mine  armor  of  you."  And  the  Lady  Elaine  said:  It  shall  be  as 
you  say,  and  I  shall  hold  this  shield  and  this  armor  as  sacred  as  my  1 

So  these  matters  were  all  brought  to  settlement  and  the 
next  day   Sir   Launcelot  in  the  armor  of  Sir  Tyre    and  Sir 
Lavaine  in  his  own  armor,  rode  out  from  the  castle  ol  that 
Earl  and   away   from  that  place  and  so  betook  the 
toward  Astolat. 


i3o   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

Now  it  chanced  that  same  day  that  two  very  worthy  knights  of  King 
Arthur's  court  were  upon  that  road  on  which  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine 
travelled  to  Astolat,  and  these  two  knights  were  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Mador 
de  la  Porte.  With  these  were  several  lords  who  paid  homage  and  respect 
to  them,  and  all  that  party  stood  beneath  the  shade  of  several  trees  nigh 
to  a  water-mill  where  it  was  very  cool  and  pleasant.  And  some  of  those 
who  were  there  sat  upon  their  horses,  and  some  had  dismounted  therefrom 
and  were  lying  in  the  cool  and  pleasant  grass  beneath  the  shade. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  perceived  where  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  came 
riding  and  he  said  to  those  who  were  with  him:  "  Behold  yonder  two  knights 
coming  hitherward.  Now  I  am  of  a  mind  that  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte  and 
I  shall  try  a  fall  with  them,  so  stand  ye  by  and  see  what  happeneth." 

So  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Mador  took  horse  and  rode  a  little  forward 
Sir  Gawaine  and  met  the  two  and  saluted  them  very  courteously,  and  Sir 
be*  Sik  ^•ador  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  saluted  those  others  in  like  man- 
Launceiot*and  ner.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  said:  "Messires,  I  pray  ye  tell  me 
Sir  Lavaine.  who  ye  are  and  whither  ye  go  upon  this  pass." 

Now  Sir  Launcelot  knew  very  well  who  those  two  knights  were  because 
of  the  devices  upon  their  shields.  Wherefore  he  changed  his  voice  a  little 
when  he  answered  Sir  Gawaine  so  that  Sir  Gawaine  should  not  know  him. 
And  he  said :  "  Messire,  I  know  not  by  what  right  ye  demand  such  knowl- 
edge of  us,  nevertheless  I  may  tell  you  that  I  am  called  le  Chevalier  Mal- 
fait,  and  this,  my  comrade,  is  hight  Sir  Lavaine  of  Corbin.  As  for  our 
journey  and  its  purpose,  I  may  furthermore  tell  you  that  we  intend,  God 
willing,  to  enter  the  tournament  at  Astolat  to-morrow,  in  which  friendly 
battle  you  also,  doubtless,  intend  to  take  a  part." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  said:  "  Tell  me,  Sir  Knight  Malfait,  will  you  and  your 
companion  try  a  fall  with  me  and  my  companions-in-arms  ?  " 

Now  Sir  Launcelot  had  no  very  great  relish  for  such  an  encounter  as 
that  for  he  feared  by  some  hap  he  should  betray  himself  who  he  was.  Yet 
he  wist  that  he  must  accept  the  challenge  of  Sir  Gawaine,  wherefore  after 
a  little  while  of  silence  he  said:  "Sir  Knight,  we  two  would  fain  go  our 
way  in  peace,  but  an  it  cannot  be  otherwise  we  must  needs  accept  your 
challenge.  But  will  you  not  let  be  and  suffer  us  to  pass  onward? " 

"Well,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "this  is  a  strange  thing  that  you  should  pre- 
tend to  aspire  to  that  tournament  of  to-morrow  and  yet  have  no  heart 
to  meet  in  friendly  tilt  two  knights  whom  you  encounter  upon  the  way." 

"Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "we  fear  you  not  in  any  wise,  wherefore, 
make  yourselves  ready  in  God's  name,  and  we  upon  our  side  will  do  our 
endeavor." 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LAVAINE  DO  BATTLE  131 

^  So  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte  made  themselves  ready  as 
Sir  Launcelot  had  advised,  and  when  they  were  in  all  ways  prepared  they 
withdrew  to  a  little  distance  so  as  to  have  a  good  course  to  run.  Then 
when  all  were  ready  for  that  encounter,  each  knight  shouted  and  set  spurs 
to  his  horse,  and  all  four  thundered  together  with  such  violence  that  the 
ground  trembled  beneath  them.  So  they  met  in  the  middle  of  the  course 
and  so  furious  was  the  meeting  of  those  four  good  knights 
that  you  might  have  heard  the  roar  of  that  encounter  for 
half  a  mile  away  or  more.  In  that  encounter  both  Sir  La- 
vaine  and  Sir  Mador  broke  each  his  spear  upon  his  enemy  and  neither  of 
them  suffered  a  fall.  But  Sir  Gawaine  had  no  such  fortune  for  his  spear 
broke  into  splinters  unto  the  very  truncheon  thereof,  and  the  spear  of  Sir 
Launcelot  held,  so  that  Sir  Gawaine  was  lifted  out  from  his  sir  Gawaine 
saddle  and  flung  upon  the  ground  with  such  violence  that  he  is  wnthfown. 
rolled  thrice  or  four  times  over  and  over  before  he  ceased  to  fall. 

Now  those  who  looked  upon  that  encounter  were  well  assured  that  Sir 
Gawaine  would  easily  overthrow  his  opponent  into  the  dust,  for  Sir  Ga- 
waine was  held  to  be  one  of  the  very  greatest  knights  in  all  of  the  world. 
Wherefore  it  was  that  when  they  beheld  how  violently  he  had  been  flung 
to  earth  by  that  unknown  knight  against  whom  he  had  tilted,  they  were 
astonished  beyond  all  bounds  of  wonderment. 

But  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  when  he  beheld  how  Sir  Gawaine  lay  there 
in  the  dust  as  though  dead,  voided  his  horse  and  ran  to  the  fallen  knight 
where  he  lay.  And  he  raised  the  umbril  of  Sir  Gawaine's  helmet,  and  lo! 
the  face  of  Sir  Gawaine  was  like  to  the  face  of  one  who  was  dead.  And  at 
first  Sir  Mador  thought  that  he  was  dead,  but  after  a  while  Sir  Gawaine 
sighed  and  then  sighed  again,  and  thereupon  Sir  Mador  knew  that  he  was 
not  dead,  but  in  a  swoon  from  the  violence  of  the  fall.  And  Sir  Mador 
rejoiced  very  greatly  that  no  more  ill  had  come  of  that  encounter. 

Then  Sir  Mador  turned  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  cried  out:  "Sir  Knight 
Malfait,  go  thy  way  in  the  fiend's  name.  For  indeed  thou  art  well  named 
Malfait,  seeing  what  an  evil  thing  it  is  that  thou  hast  done  to  this  wor- 
shipful knight.  For  wit  you  that  this  is  none  other  than  Sir  Gawaine,  the 
nephew  of  King  Arthur  himself,  whom  you  have  overthrown;  and  had 
you  slain  him,  as  at  first  I  believed  you  had,  it  would  have  been  a  very  ill 
thing  for  you.  Moreover,  you  are  to  know  that  this  knight  was  to  have 
been  the  leader  of  all  those  upon  King  Arthur's  side  in  the  battle  to-mor- 
row-day, but  now  God  knows  if  he  will  be  able  to  wear  armor  again  for 
many  days  to  come.  Wherefore  go  thy  way  and  trouble  us  no  more." 

Quoth  Sir  Launcelot:  "Well,  Sir  Knight,  this  quarrel  was  altogether  of 


132    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

your  own  seeking,  and  not  of  ours.  Wherefore,  if  ill  hath  befallen  this 
worshipful  knight,  it  is  of  his  own  devising  and  not  of  mine." 

But  Sir  Mador  only  cried  out  the  more  vehemently:  "  Go  your  way!  Go 
your  way,  and  leave  us  in  peace!"  And  thereupon  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Lavaine  drew  their  bridle  reins  and  set  heel  to  horse  and  rode  away  from 
that  place,  leaving  Sir  Mador  and  those  others  who  were  there  to  cherish 
Sir  Gawaine  and  to  revive  him  from  his  swoon  as  best  they  might. 

Now  there  was  among  those  knights  who  were  with  Sir  Gawaine  and 
Sir  Bernard  Sir  Mador  a  certain  old  and  very  worthy  knight  of  Astolat, 
of  Astolat  hight  Sir  Bernard,  surnamed  of  Astolat.  Seeing  Sir  Launce- 

followeth  Sir  '  -    ~.     T 

Launcelot  and     lot  and  Sir  Lavame  departing  in  that  wise,  Sir  Bernard  hied 


Sir  Lavaine.  fam  after  them  and  when  he  had  come  up  with  them  he  sa- 
luted them,  and  said,  "  Messires,  I  pray  ye  tell  me  where  it  is  ye  lodge  this 
night." 

Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  Fair  Sir,  we  know  not  where  we  lodge  for  we  go  to 
seek  such  lodging  as  we  may  find  in  Astolat." 

Sir  Bernard  said:  "You  will  find  no  lodging  in  Astolat  this  night,  for  all 
places  are  full.  Now  I  pray  ye  that  you  will  lodge  with  me,  for  I  have  a  very 
good  and  comely  house  and  I  shall  be  greatly  honored  for  to  have  you 
lodge  with  me.  For  I  make  my  vow,  Sir  Knight  Malfait,  that  never  saw  I 
such  a  buffet  as  that  which  you  gave  to  Sir  Gawaine  anon.  Nor  do  I 
believe  that  ever  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  himself  could  have  done  more 
doughtily  than  you  did  in  that  encounter.  Wherefore,  I  think  that  you 
will  win  you  great  glory  to-morrow-day,  and  that  I  shall  have  due  wor- 
ship if  so  be  that  ye  two  shall  have  lodged  with  me  over  this  night." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  laughed,  and  he  said  to  Sir  Bernard:  "Well,  Sir 
Knight,  I  give  you  gramercy  for  your  courtesy,  and  so  we  will  gladly 
take  up  our  inn  with  you  until  the  time  of  the  tournament.  Only  this 
I  demand,  that  we  shall  be  privily  lodged  apart  from  any  one  else,  for  we 
wish  it  that  we  shall  not  be  known  until  to-morrow  and  after  this  tourna- 
ment shall  have  transpired." 

"Messire,"  quoth  Sir  Bernard,  "it  shall  all  be  as  you  desire." 

So  those  three  rode  on  their  way  together  until  they  had  come  to 
Astolat  and  to  the  habitation  of  Sir  Bernard  of  Astolat. 

Now  the  habitation  of  Sir  Bernard  was  a  very  fair  house  over  against 
Sir  Launcelot  t^ie  castle  of  Astolat  where  King  Arthur  and  his  court  had 
lodgeth  with  taken  up  their  inn.  And  there  was  a  high  terraced  garden 
Sir  Bernard'  belonging  to  the  castle  of  Astolat,  and  the  garden  overlooked 
the  garden  of  the  house  of  Sir  Bernard.  That  day  it  chanced  that  King 
Arthur  was  walking  back  and  forth  in  that  terraced  garden  where  the  air 


KING   ARTHUR  BEHOLDETH  SIR  LAVNCELOT  ,33 

blew  cool  over  the  plats  of  flowers  and  grass.  As  the  King  so  walked  he 
chanced  to  look  down  over  the  edge  of  the  terrace  into  the  garden  of  Sir 
Bernard's  house,  and  at  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  was  walking  privily  in 
the  garden  for  to  refresh  himself,  and  no  one  was  with  him.  At  that 
time  Sir  Launcelot  had  laid  aside  his  armor  for  the  sake  of 
coolness  and  was  walking  in  light  raiment  and  bareheaded 
to  the  air,  wherefore  it  befell  that  King  Arthur  immediately  Launcelot' 
knew  him  who  he  was. 

Then  the  King  was  much  astonished  to  see  Sir  Launcelot  in  that  place, 
and  he  said  to  himself,  "What  does  Sir  Launcelot  here?"  And  at  first 
the  King  was  of  a  mind  to  send  word  to  Sir  Launcelot,  bidding  him  to 
come  to  where  he  was.  But  afterward  he  bethought  him  that  mayhap 
Sir  Launcelot  would  be  displeased  at  being  thus  summoned  to  declare 
himself.  For  the  King  perceived  that  Sir  Launcelot  did  not  choose  to 
be  known  to  any  one  at  that  time.  So  King  Arthur  said  to  himself:  "  Well, 
let  be !  To-morrow,  I  dare  say,  Sir  Launcelot  will  declare  himself  in  such 
a  wise  as  shall  astonish  a  great  many  knights  who  shall  do  battle  against 
him  upon  yonder  meadow-of-battle.  Wherefore,  let  him  e'en  declare 
himself  in  his  own  fashion." 

Thus  it  was  that  King  Arthur  communed  within  himself.  Wherefore 
he  did  not  betray  the  presence  of  Sir  Launcelot  to  anybody  at  that  time, 
but  kept  that  matter  shut  in  his  own  bosom. 

Nevertheless,  when  he  had  come  again  to  where  was  his  court,  he  said 
to  the  knights  there  assembled:  "  Messires,  I  have  this  day  beheld  a  certain 
knight  who  hath  come  hither  who  will  I  believe  play  his  play  with  the  best 
of  you  all  at  the  jousts  to-morrow."  The  knights  who  were  there  said  to 
the  King:  "  We  pray  you,  Lord,  tell  us  who  that  knight  is,  so  that  we  may 
pay  him  such  regard  as  he  is  worthy  of."  "Nay,"  quoth  King  Arthur, 
"  I  will  not  tell  you  at  this  time  who  is  that  knight,  but  haply  you  will 
know  to-morrow  who  he  is." 

Then  one  of  the  knights  who  was  there  said:  "Mayhap  that  was  the 
knight  who  overthrew  Sir  Gawaine  this  day  in  the  highroad  over  against 
the  town  a  little  distance  away.  He  calleth  himself  le  Chevalier  Malfait, 
and  hath  for  his  companion  a  youthful  knight  hight  Sir  Lavaine,  the 
King's  son  of  Corbin."  „ 

Then  King  Arthur  laughed,  and  said,  "  Like  enough  that  was  he.  And 
so  the  King  departed  into  his  lodging,  leaving  all  those  knights  much  won- 
dering who  that  knight  could  be  of  whom  the  King  spoke  to  them. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  came  to  Astolat,  and 


i34    THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

now  followeth  the  history  of  that  famous  bout  at  arms  so  far  as  it  affected 
Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  and  his  companion-at-arms,  Sir  Lavaine  of 
Corbin.  For  in  that  affair  at  arms,  as  you  shall  presently  hear  tell,  Sir 
Lavaine  gained  him  such  great  glory  and  renown  that  thereafter  he  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  great  heroes  of  chivalry,  and  by  and  by  received 
that  crowning  honor  of  becoming  a  knight-companion  of  the  Round 
Table. 


ir  Launcclot  anb  Sir  Lavaine 
overiooB  %  Fkl&  o[  Astolat: 


^s^s^^v^^y^s^ 


Chapter  Fourth 

How  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  fought  in  the  tournament  at 
Astolat.  How  Sir  Launcelot  was  wounded  in  that  affair,  and 
how  Sir  Lavaine  brought  him  unto  a  place  of  safety. 

SO  it  is  true  that  in  these  days  one  may  not  hope  ever  to  behold  a 
sight  like  to  the  field-of-battle  at  Astolat  upon  Lady's  Day  As- 
sumption, when  that  tournament  proclaimed  by  King  Arthur 
was  about  to  be  fought  before  the  eyes  of  the  King.  For  upon  that  morn- 
ing— which  was  wonderfully  bright  and  clear  and  warm —  of  the  lists 
the  entire  green  meadow  was  altogether  covered  over  with  a  «*  Astolat. 
moving  throng  of  people  of  all  degrees — lords  and  ladies,  knights  and 
dames,  esquires,  burghers,  yeomen  and  tradesfolk — all  moving,  each  to- 
ward some  stand  from  whence  he  might  view  the  battle  that  was  about 
to  take  place.  And  here  were  gay  attires  and  bright  colors  and  the  flut- 
tering of  silk  and  the  flash  and  sparkle  of  shining  baubles,  and  because 
of  the  sheen  and  sparkle  of  all  these  the  whole  world  appeared  to  be 
quick  with  life  and  motion. 

Yet  ever  by  little  and  little  this  confusion  of  many  people  pushing  them- 
selves hither  and  thither  resolved  itself  to  order  as  one  by  one  that  multi- 
tude took  seat  and  brought  itself  to  quietness.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  at 
last  that  the  field  prepared  for  battle  was  cleared  of  all  save  a  few  who 
lingered  and  whom  the  guardians  of  the  lists  pushed  back  into  their 
places. 

Then,  all  being  thus  brought  to  order,  the  Marshal  of  the  Tourney  blew 
his  trumpet,  and  straightway  there  entered  upon  this  side  of  ^  knights_ 
that  wide  meadow  and  upon  that  side  thereof  the  two  com-   contestant  enter 
panics  of  knights  who  were  to  contend  the  one  against  the   t^ld~of' 
other. 

Then,  lo  f  how  the  sunlight  flashed  upon  shining  armor!  How  it  catched 
the  pens  and  bannerets  so  that  they  twinkled  at  tips  of  lances  like  to  sparks 
of  fire!  How  war-horses  neighed  for  love  of  battle!  How  armor  clashed 


138   THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

and  shield  plates  rang  as  those  goodly  companies  of  knights  brought  them- 
selves by  degrees  into  array  for  battle! 

Upon  the  one  end  of  the  meadow  there  gathered  the  knights-champion 
who  were  of  the  party  of  King  Arthur,  and  the  chiefs  of  that  party  were 
the  King  of  Scots  and  the  King  of  Ireland,  and  with  them  were  many 
knights  of  the  Round  Table,  much  renowned  both  in  song  and  battle. 
And  the  number  of  knights  of  that  company  were  two  hundred  and  ten 
in  all. 

Upon  the  other  end  of  the  meadow  of  battle  there  assembled  the  party 
Of  the  two  °^  tnose  w^°  were  to  withstand  the  party  of  King  Arthur ;  and 
parties-  the  chiefs  of  that  company  were  the  King  of  North  Wales 

and  the  King  of  an  Hundred  Knights,  and  the  King  of  North- 
umberland and  Galahaut  the  High  Prince.  And  though  there  were  no 
knights  of  the  Round  Table  in  that  company,  yet  there  were  many  cham- 
pions of  very  great  renown  and  high  credit  in  courts  of  chivalry.  And 
the  number  of  that  party  were  two  hundred  thirty  and  two. 

Now  near  to  a  certain  part  of  the  field-of -battle  the  trees  of  the  forest 
came  down  close  to  the  meadow,  and  made,  as  it  were,  a  green  wall  of  fol- 
iage circumjacent  to  that  part  of  the  field.  Here,  beneath  the  shade  of 
the  green  trees  of  the  forest  where  it  was  cool  and  shady  and  very  still, 
Sir  Launceiot  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  had  taken  stand  at  a  certain 
sir  place  whence  they  could  look  out  upon  those  two  parties 

field'  of  knights  there  gathered  in  battle  array.  And,  that  while, 
of  Astoiat.  the  eves  Of  gjr  Lavaine  shone  like  sparks  of  light  and  his 
cheeks  were  flaming  red,  like  as  though  they  were  on  fire,  and  his  breath  was 
thick  and  stifled  when  he  breathed  it.  For  this  was  the  first  great  battle 
in  which  he  had  ever  taken  a  part  and  he  wist  not  what  was  to  befall  him 
in  that  affair  at  arms. 

But  that  same  while  Sir  Launcelot  neither  moved  nor  spake  but  sat 
his  horse  like  to  a  statue  made  of  iron;  calm  and  steadfast  and  gazing 
very  steadily  out  upon  that  plain  before  him. 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  spake  in  a  voice  wonderfully  high  and  clear.  "  Mes- 
sire,"  said  he,  "upon  what  side  do  you  will  that  we  take  part  in  this 
battle?" 

Quoth  Sir  Launcelot:  "To  neither  party  do  I  yet  will  that  we  shall 
join  us.  Rather  let  us  wait  a  while  and  observe  the  issue  of  this  battle, 
and  when  we  behold  that  one  side  is  about  to  lose  in  the  battle  then  will 
we  join  with  that  side.  For  if  so  be  we  aid  to  bring  victory  out  of  defeat 
for  that  party,  then  shall  our  credit  and  our  glory  be  magnified  in  that  same 
degree."  And  Sir  Lavaine  said,  "Sir,  thou  speakest  with  great  wisdom." 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  LAVAINE  OBSERVE  THE  BATTLE  139 

Then,  as  those  two  watched  in  that  wise,  they  beheld  that  three  knights 
champion  came  forth  from  one  side  and  that  three  champions  came  forth 
from  the  other  side  and  they  wist  that  these  six  champions  were  to  engage 
man  to  man  and  so  to  test  the  strength  of  this  side  and  of  that  ere  the  two 
arrays  should  join  in  battle-royal.  And  Sir  Launcelot  knew  these  six 
champions  very  well  and  he  declared  to  Sir  Lavaine  who  they  were.  To 
wit,  he  declared  that  the  champions  upon  King  Arthur's  side  were  the 
King  of  Scots  and  the  King  of  Ireland  and  Sir  Palamydes,  and  that  the 
knights  of  the  other  party  were  the  King  of  Northumberland,  and  the 
King  of  an  Hundred  Knights,  and  Galahaut  the  High  Prince. 

Then,  even  as  Sir  Launcelot  was  telling  Sir  Lavaine  who  were  these 
six  champions  who  thus  stood  forth  to  undertake  battle  against  one  an- 
other, the  herald  blew  his  trumpet  very  loud  and  shrill.  And  How  the  battle 
therewith,  in  an  instant  of  time,  each  knight  had  set  spurs  °P*»*k> 
to  his  horse,  and  each  horse  leaped  forward  from  his  station  and  rushed 
forward,  and  so  they  came,  three  knights  against  three,  like  to  thunder- 
bolts launched  against  one  another.  So  they  met  together  in  the  midst 
of  the  course  with  a  crash  of  splintering  wood  and  a  roar  of  armor  that 
might  easily  have  been  heard  a  mile  away.  In  that  meeting  Sir  Pala- 
medes  and  Sir  Galahaut  the  High  Prince  smote  down  one  another  into  the 
dust.  And  the  King  of  an  Hundred  Knights  smote  down  King  Angus 
of  Ireland  with  such  terrible  violence  that  he  lay  like  dead  upon  the  ground 
and  had  to  be  borne  away  out  of  the  field  by  his  esquires  and  could  not 
again  do  battle  that  day.  As  to  the  King  of  Northumberland  and  the 
King  of  Scots,  they  broke  each  his  lance  upon  the  other  without  suffering 
a  fall.  So  that  first  encounter  was  somewhat  to  the  advantage  of  the 
party  against  King  Arthur. 

Then  all  who  beheld  that  noble  encounter  of  knight  against  knight 
shouted  aloud  in  acclaim,  and  the  shout  of  that  vast  acclaim  was  like 
the  multitudinous  roaring  of  a  strong  wind  in  the  forest,  of  the  grand 
Thereupon  in  the  midst  of  all  that  roaring  the  herald  blew  «*"*  <*  ar» 
his  trump  again  and  therewith  the  two  parties  contestant  rushed  the  one 
upon  the  other,  the  earth  shaking  and  trembling  beneath  that  charge  like 
to  an  earthquake.  So  in  another  moment  they  met  together  in  such  an 
uproar  of  iron  and  cracking  of  splintered  wood  that  the  ears  of  those  who 
heard  that  meeting  were  stunned  with  the  crash  thereof.  Then  all  the 
air  was  full  of  dust  and  splinters  of  wood  and  scraps  and  shreds  of  silk 
and  of  plumes.  Anon,  out  of  a  thick  red  cloud  of  dust  there  arose  the  roar 
of  a  mighty  battle;  the  shouts  of  men,  the  neighing  of  horses,  the  crash  of 
blows  and  the  groans  of  those  who  fell.  At  times,  some  knight  would 


140   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

come  forth  out  of  the  press  reeling  in  the  saddle  and  all  red  from  some 
wound  he  had  got.  At  other  times,  a  party  of  esquires  would  run  into  that 
cloud,  presently  to  come  forth  again  bearing  with  them  a  wounded  knight 
whom  they  had  rescued.  At  other  parts  of  the  field  there  were  knights 
armed  with  spears  who  ran  tilt  against  one  another,  and  ever  and  anon  a 
knight  would  be  flung  from  the  saddle  or  else  horse  and  knight  would  roll 
together  upon  the  earth  all  in  a  smother  of  dust. 

So  for  a  while  the  battle  was  toward  and  yet  no  one  could  see  how  it 
went.  For  what  with  all  that  dust  and  the  contending  of  single  champions, 
no  one  could  tell  whether  it  inclined  to  this  side  or  to  that. 

But  after  a  while  the  dust  lifted  a  little,  and  those  who  contended  became 
fewer  upon  one  side  than  upon  the  other  and  so  stinted  the  fierceness  of 
their  battle. 

Then  it  was  that  those  who  looked  down  upon  that  battle  beheld  that 
the  party  of  King  Arthur  was  pushing  their  opponents  back,  little  by 
little,  toward  the  barriers  upon  their  side  of  the  field  (and  if  so  be  they 
were  pushed  altogether  against  that  barrier  then  was  their  battle  lost  for 
good). 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  to  Sir  Layaine:  "Behold  yonder  company  of 
noble  knights,  how  that  they  hold  together  and  stand  against  their 
enemies  in  spite  of  that  defeat  which  must  certainly  fall  upon  them  in 
the  end." 

"I  see  it,"  said  Sir  Lavaine,  "and  have  great  pity  for  them." 

"  Hast  thou  so  ? "  said  Sir  Launcelot.  "  Then  let  us  take  side  with  that  side 
which  is  so  sore  bestead,  for  I  believe  that  if  you  will  help  me  a  little  we 
may  well  aid  them  and  maybe  stay  the  ill-fortune  that  seems  like  to 
overwhelm  them." 

"Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Lavaine,  "spare  not,  and  I  upon  my  side  will  do  the 
best  that  I  am  able  for  to  help  you." 

So  with  that  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  rode  out  from  the  forest 
wherein  they  had  sheltered  themselves,  and  they  set  their 
and s^La0-       spears  in  rest  and  they  drove  forward  to  where  those  knights 
^^e  Battle art    were  doing  combat.     And  they  drove  faster  and  faster  for- 
ward until  they  drove  full  tilt  into  the  thickest  of  the  press. 

The  history  of  these  things  saith  that  in  this  charge  and  in  other  charges 
that  he  made  in  that  onset,  Sir  Launcelot  smote  down  Sir  Brandiles,  and 
Sir  Sagramore,  and  Sir  Dodinas,  and  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Griflet,  and  the 
history  saith  that  he  smote  down  all  those  good  knights  of  the  Round 
Table  with  one  spear  ere  that  spear  burst  asunder.  And  the  same  history 
saith  that  Sir  Lavaine  smote  down  Sir  Lucian  the  botteler  and  Sir  Bedivere 


SIR   LAUNCELOT   AND  SIR  LAVAINE  DO   BATTLE  141 

with  one  spear  in  that  charge  and  that  then  that  spear  also  was  burst 
into  pieces.  And  the  history  saith  that  Sir  Launcelot  got  him  another 
spear  and  that  Sir  Lavaine  did  likewise  and  that  thereafter  they  two  charged 
again  as  they  had  done  before.  And  it  saith  that  in  this  second  assault 
Sir  Launcelot  smote  down  Sir  Agravaine,  and  Sir  Gaheris  and  Sir  Modred 
and  Sir  Melyot  of  Logres,  and  that  Sir  Lavaine  smote  down  Sir  Hozanna  le 
Cure  Hardy,  and  that  after  that  those  second  spears  were  burst  in  assault 
as  the  first  had  been. 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  withdrew  a  little  to  get  another  spear,  but  by  that 
time  the  madness  of  battle  was  upon  Sir  Launcelot  so  that  he  drew  his 
sword  and  he  ran  into  the  thickest  of  the  press  and  smote  upon  the  right 
hand  and  the  left  hand  with  all  his  might  and  main  so  that  in  a  wonderfully 
short  pass  he  had  smitten  down  Sir  Safir  and  Sir  Epynogris  and  Sir  Galleron. 
And  so  terrible  were  the  buffets  he  gave  that  all  who  were  nigh  to  him  drew 
away  from  him  from  fear  of  the  terrible  blows  which  he  bestowed  upon 
whomsoever  came  within  his  reach. 

By  now  all  who  looked  upon  that  field  were  aware  of  how  terrible  a  battle 
it  was  that  the  knight  of  the  red  sleeve  fought  against  his  enemies,  where- 
fore they  shouted  aloud  with  a  great  voice  of  outcry  and  loud  acclaim. 
And  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  beheld  how  her  champion  did 
battle,  and  seeing  him  she  could  not  contain  the  passion  of   Elaine  taketh 
her  joy,  but  laughed  and  wept  and  trembled  for  that  joy.   ^^the 
And  she  catched  King  Pelles  ever  by  the  arm  and  cried  out 
to  him,  "  Lord!  Lord!  see  what  our  champion  doeth  and  what  my  brother 
doeth!"  and  King  Pelles  said,  "I  see!  I  see!"  and  held  tight  hold  of  the 
rail  of  the  dais  before  him. 

Then  King  Arthur  where  he  sat  said  to  those  about  him:  "  Behold  yonder 
champion,  what  battle  it  is  he  doeth.  Saw  ye  ever  a  better  battle  than 
that?"  And  they  say,  "  Nay,  never  so  great  a  battle!" 

But  when  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  the  flame-colored  sleeve  that  the  champion 
wore  about  his  helmet,  he  said  to  King  Arthur,  "Yonder  knight  is  he  who 
cast  me  down  yesterday  into  the  dust  of  the  highway  over  against  t 
town,"  and  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "because  of  that  and  because  of  the  battle 
he  now  doeth,  I  would  deem  yonder  knight  to  be  none  other  than  S 
Launcelot  of  the  Lake.     And  yet  it  cannot  be  Sir  Launcelot,  for  this  knight 
weareth  the  sleeve  of  some  lady  as  a  favor  upon  his  helmet,  and  all  tne 
world  knoweth  that  Sir  Launcelot  would  never  wear  the  favoi 
in  such  a  wise  as  that."  ,         . 

Meantime  the  battle  was  stayed  for  a  little  while,  for  at  that  time  i 
seemed  as  though  neither  horse  nor  man  could  do  any  more 


i42    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAIN'E   THE  FAIR 

while.  Yet  though  the  battle  was  stayed,  nevertheless  each  knight  braced 
himself  for  a  greater  battle  than  that  which  had  gone  before.  For  all  knew 
Of  the  pause  that  now  indeed  the  time  had  come  when  either  one  party  or 
in  battle.  the  other  must  win  that  battle.  So  in  that  pause  of  battle  Sir 

Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  each  chose  him  a  good  strong  new  spear  of  ash 
wood,  and  each  drank  a  cup  of  lusty  spiced  wine  for  to  refresh  his  strength. 

And,  ere  they  began  to  battle  afresh,  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  and  Sir  Ector 
de  Maris  and  Sir  Lionel  upon  the  other  side  called  together  such  kindred 
of  their  blood  as  were  upon  that  field:  to  wit,  Sir  Blamor  de  Ganis,  Sir 
Bleoberis  and  Sir  Aliduke,  Sir  Galihadan,  and  Sir  Bellanger — all  these 
knights  being  of  Sir  Launcelot 's  kin.  These  say  to  one  another:  "If  we 
do  not  overthrow  yonder  single  knight  who  fights  so  wonderfully  against 
us  we  shall  certes  lose  this  battle.  For  never  knight  fought  so  unless 
it  was  Sir  Launcelot.  For  lo!  he  himself  is  the  single  bulwark  against 
us  in  this  battle." 

So  it  was  that  these  kinsmen  of  Sir  Launcelot  ordained  it  that  they 
should  join  themselves  together  for  to  overthrow  that  knight  by  main 
strength  if  need  be. 

Then  anon  the  battle  was  called  again  and  anon  each  side  hurled  itself 
against  the  other  side,  well  knowing  that  at  this  time  it  must  be  else  to 
conquer  or  else  to  lose.  And  in  that  charge  the  kinsmen  of  Sir  Launcelot 
hurled  themselves  against  that  knight  of  the  red  sleeve  and  against  those 
who  were  by  him.  And  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Lionel  drave  three 
at  once  at  Sir  Launcelot  and  he  drave  against  them — one 
take  battle  against  three.  But  so  heavy  was  the  might  of  the  assault  of 
tnose  three,  that  they  overthrew  the  horse  of  Sir  Launcelot  by 
the  weight  of  their  three  horses  so  that  the  horse  of  Sir  Laun- 
celot and  Sir  Launcelot  himself  were  cast  down  upon  the  earth  beneath  the 
feet  of  the  horses  of  those  who  charged  against  him.  And  in  that  charge 
the  spear  of  Sir  Bors  smote  Sir  Launcelot  in  the  side,  and  the  point  of  the 
spear  burst  through  the  armor  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  pierced  deep  into  his 
Sir  Launcelot  side.  Therewith  the  head  of  the  spear  brake  from  the  trunch- 
is  wounded.  eon  an(j  remained  thrust  deep  into  the  side  of  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  Sir  Launcelot  groaned  aloud,  deeming  that  he  had  got  his  death 
wound. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  lay  upon  the  ground  and  could  not  rise  and  he  would 
maybe  have  been  beaten  to  death  beneath  the  feet  of  the  horses.  But 
Sir  Lavaine  beheld  how  it  was  with  him,  whereat  he  shouted  aloud  with 
a  great  voice  and  he  and  all  that  party  rushed  to  the  aid  of  Sir  Launce- 
lot. And  Sir  Lavaine  smote  down  the  King  of  Scots  at  one  blow  from 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  IS  WOUNDED  , 

out  of  his  saddle.  And  he  turned  the  horse  of  the  King  of  Scots  to  where 
Sir  Launcelot  lay.  And  he  stood  above  Sir  Launcelot  and  defended  him 
against  the  assault  of  all  those  others  who  were  around  about,  and  so, 
maugre  their  vehement  assaults,  he  brought  Sir  Launcelot  to  horse  again. ' 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  clean  wode  because  of  the  passion  of  agony  he 
suffered  from  that  grievous  wound  he  had  got.  Wherefore  he  drew  his 
sword  and  he  stood  up  in  his  stirrups  and  he  smote  right  and  left  like  a 
madman.  And  he  smote  down  one  after  the  other  Sir  Lionel  and  Sir  Bors 
de  Ganis,  and  he  smote  Sir  Bleoberis  such  a  buffet  that  he  fell  down  to  the 
earth  in  a  swoon  as  if  he  had  been  dead.  And  in  that  time  Sir  Lavaine 
smote  down  Sir  Bellanger,  and  two  other  knights  of  worship  and  renown. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  him  about  and  smote  Sir  Blamor  down  from 
off  his  horse  and  with  that  Sir  Ector  made  at  him.  But  Sir  Launcelot 
was  blind  with  his  passion  of  battle  and  of  pain,  and  he  wist  not  who  that 
was  who  came  against  him.  Wherefore  he  turned  upon  Sir  Ector  and  he 
smote  him  so  dreadful  terrible  a  buffet,  that  the  head  of  Sir  Ector  hung 
down  low  upon  the  neck  of  his  horse.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  catched  Sir 
Ector  and  rushed  off  the  helm  from  the  head  of  Sir  Ector  with  intent  to 
slay  him,  for  at  that  time  he  was  so  mad  that  he  wist  not  where  he  was 
or  what  he  did. 

Then  he  beheld  the  face  of  his  brother  Sir  Ector,  and  he  beheld  that 
face  all  white  and  wan  from  the  blow  he  himself  had  struck,  and  he  be- 
held his  brother's  cheeks  all  white  and  streaked  with  blood,    sir  Launceht 
and  therewith  his  senses  returned  to  him,  and  in  that  instant   spareth  Sir 
he  wist  where  he  was  and  what  he  did.     Thereupon  he  cried 
out  in  a  great  and  terrible  voice:  "  Woe!  Woe!  Woe  is  me!  what  is  it  that 
I  do!"     And  therewith  he  rushed  away  from  that  place  where  Sir  Ector 
was,  and  he  rushed  into  the  thickest  of  the  press,  striking  right  and  left 
like  a  madman  in  fury. 

And  it  stands  recorded  that  all  in  all  in  that  battle  Sir  Launcelot  struck 
down  thirty  knights  with  his  own  hand,  and  that  sixteen  of  those  thirty  were 
knights  of  the  Round  Table.     And  it  is  recorded  that  Sir  Lavaine  struck 
down  fourteen  knights  and  that  six  of  those  knights  were  knights  of  th 
Round  Table.     And  it  was  because  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  that 
their  party  prevailed  in  that  battle.     For,  because  beholding  how  they 
fought,  their  party  took  great  heart  and  added  strength  to  strength  and 
so  drave  their  enemies  back  across  the  meadow-of-battle  until  they  were 
pushed  back  against  the  barriers  of  their  side  of  the  meadow  anc 
battle  was  won.  0.    T 

And  thus  that  was  achieved  that  else  had  been  lost  had  not  Sir  Launce- 


144   THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

lot  and  Sir  Lavaine  lent  their  aid  to  that  party  with  whom  they  joined  in 
battle  against  the  party  of  King  Arthur. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  sat  wounded  nigh  to  death.  Yea,  he  deemed  that 
the  sickness  and  the  sweat  of  death  was  even  then  upon  him,  for  an 
exceeding  faintness  overclouded  his  spirit.  To  him  where  he  sat  came 
the  King  of  North  Wales  and  the  King  of  Northumberland  and  the  King 
of  an  Hundred  Knights  and  these  say  to  him:  "Sir,  may  -God  bless  you, 
for  without  your  aid,  and  that  of  your  companion  this  day  had  certes 
been  lost  to  us."  And  then  they  said:  "  Now  we  pray  you  that  you  will 
come  with  us  to  King  Arthur  so  that  you  may  receive  at  his  hands  the 
prize  you  have  so  worshipfully  deserved."  Thus  they  spake  very  cheer- 
fully, for  not  one  of  those  worthies  knew  that  Sir  Launcelot  had  been  so 
sorely  wounded  in  the  battle  he  had  fought. 

Sir  Launcelot  Then  Sir  Launcelot  spake  in  a  very  weak  voice,  so  that  it 
would  fain  sounded  like  to  one  speaking  from  a  very  great  distance 
***""*-  away.  And  he  said :  "  Fair  lords,  if  I  have  won  credit  in  this 

I  have  paid  a  fair  price  for  it,  for  I  am  sore  hurt  and  wist  not  what  to  do. 
Now  this  I  pray  of  you  that  you  will  suffer  me  to  depart  from  this  place, 
for  I  am  in  great  pain  and  would  fain  go  away  from  here  to  somewhere  I 
may  have  aid  and  comforts." 

Then  those  three  kings  would  have  had  him  go  to  a  fair  pavilion  for 
to  have  his  wound  searched  and  dressed,  but  ever  he  besought  them  to 
suffer  him  to  depart.  So  they  suffered  him,  and  he  rode  very  slowly 
away  from  that  place,  and  Sir  Lavaine  rode  with  him. 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  did  battle  at  that  famous 
tournament  at  Astolat  as  I  have  told  you. 

And  now  if  you  would  know  how  it  fared  with  Sir  Launcelot  after  he 
rode  away  from  that  place,  wounded  as  aforesaid,  you  shall  immediately 
hear  of  it  in  that  which  followeth. 


ir  Gawaine  Rnoroe  $7  flj  e  *l)  i  eib 

of  Sir Laimcelot 

^F^ 


Chapter  Fifth 

How  Sir  Launcelot  escaped  wounded  into  the  forest,  and  how  Sir 
Gawaine  discovered  to  the  court  of  King  Pelles  who  was  le 
Chevalier  Malfait. 

SO  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lavaine  rode  away  from  that  field  of  bat- 
tle. And  they  rode  together  into  the  forest,  and  all  that  while 
Sir  Launcelot  contained  his  suffering  to  himself  so  that  Sir  La- 
vaine wist  not  how  grievous  was  his  wound  nor  how  great  was  the  passion 
of  agony  that  he  then  endured  because  of  that  hurt.  But  after  they  had 
ridden  a  mile  or  two  or  three  into  the  woodland,  Sir  Launcelot  could  no 
longer  thus  contain  himself,  wherefore  he  let  droop  his  head  very  low  and 
he  groaned  with  great  dolor.  Then  Sir  Lavaine  was  aware  that  some  griev- 
ous hurt  must  have  befallen  Sir  Launcelot.  Wherefore  he  cried  out:  "  Mes- 
sire,  I  fear  me  ye  are  sore  hurt.  Now  tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  how  is  it 
with  you?" 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  groaned  again  and  he  said :  "  Woe  is  me !   I  suffer  much 
pain."     And  therewith  he  made  to  dismount  from  his  horse   Sir  Launcdot 
and  would  have  fallen  had  not  Sir  Lavaine  catched  him  and   deciarcth  his 
upheld  him.     After  that  Sir  Lavaine  aided  Sir  Launcelot  down 
from  his  horse,  and  Sir  Launcelot  leaned  against  a  tree  of  the  forest,  groan- 
ing as  from  the  bottom  of  his  soul,  and  Sir  Lavaine  wist  not  what  to  do  to 
help  him.     Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  his  eyes,  all  faint  and  dim,  upon  Sir 
Lavaine,  and  he  said:  "Oh,  gentle  knight,  Sir  Lavaine,  for  the  mercy  of 
God  I  beseech  you  to  pluck  forth  the  blade  of  a  spear  that  has  pierced  into 
my  side,  for  I  suffer  a  great  pang  of  torment." 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  was  aware  of  what  sort  was  that  wound  and  he  mad 
haste  to  strip  off  the  body  armor  from  Sir  Launcelot.     So,  when  that  body 
armor  was  thus  removed,  Sir  Lavaine  beheld  a  grievous  wound  where  the 
blade  of  the  spear  had  pierced  deep  into  the  side  of  Sir  Launcelot  a  lit 
above  the  midriff.     And  Sir  Lavaine  perceived  that  the  blade  o !  the 
spear  was  yet  in  the  wound  and  that  the  hurt  was  very  deep.     So  beh 


148   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

ing  that  wound  Sir  Lavaine  wept,  and  cried  out:  "Dear  my  Lord!  Woe 
is  me!  I  dare  not  pull  out  that  blade ;  for  an  I  do  so,  I  dread  me  sore  that 
you  will  die  here  in  the  forest  ere  aid  can  be  brought  to  you  and  so  it  shall 
be  I  who  killed  you." 

"No  matter,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  speaking  very  faint  and  with  failing 
breath.  "  Do  as  I  bid  you,  for  the  point  of  that  blade  lieth  near  to  my 
heart  and  I  suffer  a  great  deal  of  pain  from  it." 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  laid  hold  of  the  shaft  of  the  spear,  and  he  strove  to 
draw  forth  the  blade  from  out  Sir  Launcelot 's  side,  yet  he  could  not  do  so. 
And  thereupon  Sir  Launcelot  cried  aloud  in  a  very  piercing  voice,  "  Spare 
not!  Spare  not!  but  pull  forth  that  steel!"  So  with  that  Sir  Lavaine 
Sir  Lavaine  plucked  again  with  all  his  might  and  he  drew  the  steel  forth 
draweth  for  from  out  of  the  wound.  And  as  the  blade  came  forth  from 
out  of  the  flesh,  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out  again  in  a  voice  very 
loud  and  shrill,  saying,  "  God!  God!  that  this  should  be! "  And  with  that  a 
great  issue  of  blood  gushed  out  of  the  wound  like  a  crimson  fountain  and 
Sir  Launcelot  sank  down  upon  the  ground  in  a  swoon  that  was  like  the 
swoon  of  death. 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  believed  that  he  had  assuredly  slain  Sir  Launcelot, 
wherefore  he  wept  aloud  with  a  great  passion  of  grief,  smiting  his  hands 
together  and  crying,  "  Woe  is  me !  For  I  have  slain  my  dear  lord ! "  There- 
upon he  kneeled  down  beside  Sir  Launcelot  and  fell  to  feeling  his  heart. 
And  he  perceived  that  the  heart  still  beat  but  very  faintly,  and  so  he 
wist  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  not  dead  but  only  in  a  deadly  swoon. 

So  Sir  Lavaine  turned  Sir  Launcelot  where  that  the  wind  blew  upon  him 
and  after  a  while  Sir  Launcelot  opened  his  eyes  again.  Then  with  his  sight 
all  swimming  he  beheld  Sir  Lavaine  kneeling  beside  him  weeping,  and  he 
said,  speaking  in  a  voice  very  weak  and  faint,  "  Lavaine,  am  I  yet  alive?" 
And  Sir  Lavaine  said,  "Yea,  Lord."  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Then  bear  me 
away  from  this  place."  And  Sir  Lavaine  said,  "Whither  shall  I  take 
you?"  Sir  Launcelot  said:  " Listen,  Friend,  bear  me  away  into  the  forest 
to  the  westward  of  here.  For  after  a  while  to  the  westward  of  this  place 
you  shall  find  a  forest  path  that  runs  across  your  way.  And  you  shall 
take  that  path  toward  the  right  hand  and  so  you  will  come  after  another 
while  to  the  hut  of  an  hermit  of  the  forest.  Bring  me  to  that  holy  man ; 
for  if  any  one  can  cure  me  of  this  hurt  he  alone  can  do, so."  Sir  Lavaiue 
said:  "  Lord,  how  shall  I  take  you  such  a  journey  as  that,  so  that  you  shall 
not  die?"  Sir  Launcelot  replied:  "I  know  not  how  you  shall  take  me, 
but  this  I  know:  that  if  you  take  me  not  to  that  place  I  shall  certes  die 
here  before  your  eyes  in  this  forest." 


THE  WOUNDED  KNIGHT  COMETH  TO  THE  FOREST  CHAPEL  149 

So  Sir  Lavaine,  weeping,  made  a  litter  of  straight  young  trees  and  he 
laid  his  cloak  upon  the  litter  and  he  bound  the  litter  to  the 
horses.  Then  he  lifted  Sir  Launcelot  and  laid  him  upon  the 
litter  as  though  it  were  a  little  child  whom  he  laid  there, 
Thereafter  he  took  the  foremost  horse  by  the  bridle,  and  so, 
led  away  into  the  forest  whither  Sir  Launcelot  had  bidden  him  to  go. 

So  in  that  wise  they  travelled  in  the  forest  for  a  great  while  and  by 
and  by  night  descended  and  the  full  moon  arose  all  white  and  shining  into 
the  sky.  And  it  rose  ever  higher  and  higher  and  it  shone  down  upon  the 
forest  woodlands  so  that  here  it  was  all  bright  and  there  it  was  all  agloom 
with  shadow;  and  anon  Sir  Lavaine,  as  he  led  the  horses  in  that  wise, 
would  walk  in  that  silver  silent  light  and  anon  he  would  be  lost  in  those 
shadows.  And  all  that  while  Sir  Launcelot  lay  so  still  that  several  times 
Sir  Lavaine  thought  haply  he  was  dead.  Then  he  would  say,  "Sir,  art 
thou  dead?"  And  ever  Sir  Launcelot  would  answer,  "Not  yet." 

Thus  they  travelled  for  a  great  while  in  that  still  forest  (all  so  silent 
and  wonderful)  and  beneath  the  clear  pale  moonlight  that  caused  every- 
thing to  appear  like  to  an  enchantment  of  stillness.  So,  somewhat  after 
the  middle  watch  of  the  night,  Sir  Lavaine  beheld  before  him  a  little 
chapel  built  up  against  the  rocks  of  a  cliff  of  stone  and  beneath  the  black 
and  umbrageous  foliage  of  a  large  oak  tree.  And  the  moonlight  shone 
down  past  the  oak  tree  and  bathed  all  the  front  of  that  little  chapel  with 
pure  white  silvery  light,  so  still  and  silent  that  the  chapel  appeared  as  in  a 
strange  and  singular  picture  as  it  were  seen  in  a  dream. 

Thither  Sir  Lavaine  led  the  horses  bearing  between  them  the  wounded 
knight,  whose  face,  as  white  as  the  moon  above,  was  turned  upward  against 
the  sky.  And  when  Sir  Lavaine  had  come  to  the  door  of  the  chapel  he 
smote  upon  it  with  the  butt  of  his  lance ;  and  he  smote  again,  7*^  come  ^ 
and  therewith  the  door  was  opened  and  there  appeared  in  the  forest  chapel. 
the  doorway  the  figure  of  an  aged  man  with  a  long  white  beard  like  to  snow 
for  whiteness.  And  that  man  was  the  hermit  of  the  forest  afore  spoken  of 
several  times  in  these  histories. 

Then  when  that  reverend  hermit  beheld  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay  in  the 
litter,  so  sorely  wounded,  he  came  to  him  and  felt  of  his  heart.     So,  per- 
ceiving him  to  be  alive,  he  aided  Sir  Lavaine  to  lift  the  wounded  man  from 
the  litter  and  to  bear  him  into  the  hut  and  to  lay  him  upon  a  soft  am 
fragrant  couch  of  leaves  and  moss. 

At  that  time   Sir  Launcelot  was  in  a  deep  swoon  like  as  though  h 
were  dead;  yet  he  was  not  dead,  for  after  the  hermit  had  bathed  his  lace 
with  strong  wine,  and  after  he  had  set  pungent  herbs  to  his  nostrils,  by 


150   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

and  by  Sir  Launcelot  revived  so  as  to  sigh  very  deep  and  to  open  his  eyes. 
And  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Where  am  I?  Am  I  still  alive?"  The  hermit 
said,  "Yea,  messire."  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "I  wist  that  maybe  I  was 
dead." 

Then  the  hermit  searched  Sir  Launcelot 's  wound  and  bathed  it  and  put 
unguents  upon  it  and  bound  it  about  with  bandages  of  linen  and  so  Sir 
Launcelot  was  put  at  ease.  And  after  that  Sir  Launcelot  fell  into  a  deep 
sleep  so  still  and  profound  that  it  was  like  to  the  slumber  of  a  little  child. 

Now  whilst  Sir  Launcelot  thus  slept,  Sir  Lavaine  and  the  hermit  walked 
in  the  moonlight  upon  a  little  lawn  of  grass  before  the  door  of  the  hermitage. 
By  and  by  the  hermit  said  to  Sir  Lavaine :  "  Sir  Knight,  know  you  who 
yonder  knight  is  whom  you  brought  hither  to-night?"  and  Sir  Lavaine 
said,  "Nay,  I  know  not,  save  that  he  calleth  himself  le  Chevalier  Malfait." 

"Well,"  quoth  the  hermit,  "God  knows  that  all  we  who  live  upon  His 

earth  may  easily  do  ill  in  His  sight;  yet  I  dare  to  say  that 

declare™ Sir      that  yonder  knight  hath  done  as  little  ill  as  any  of  us.     Sir, 

Launceiots        yOU  must  know  that  he  is  none  other  than  Sir  Launcelot 

name.  J 

of  the  Lake. 

At  this  Sir  Lavaine  cried  out  aloud  in  great  wonder,  saying:  "What  is 
it  that  you  tell  me !  Lo !  This  knight  hath  dwelt  at  the  court  of  my  father, 
King  Pelles  of  Corbin,  for  more  than  a  year  yet  no  one  there  wist  that  it 
was  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  whom  we  entertained  in  our  midst." 

"And  yet,"  quoth  the  hermit,  "that  wounded  man  is  none  other  than 
he." 

Now  that  same  night  whilst  Sir  Launcelot  lay  thus  wounded  in  the 
hermit's  cell  in  the  forest,  a  great  feast  was  held  at  Astolat  in  the  presence 
King  Arthur  of  King  Arthur.  There  were  set  fourteen  tables  in  the  great 
sits  at  feast.  hall  of  the  castle  of  Astolat,  and  at  those  tables  there  sat 
down  seven  hundred  in  all  of  the  lords  and  knights  and  ladies  of  that 
land — kings,  earls,  dukes,  barons,  knights,  and  esquires  with  their  dames- 
fifty  at  each  table. 

Then  King  Arthur  looked  all  about  but  he  beheld  no  sign  of  Sir  Launce- 
lot, wherefore  he  said  to  the  King  of  North  Wales  who  sat  nigh  to  him: 
"Where  is  that  worthy  knight  who  was  with  you  to-day — he  who  wore 
about  his  helmet  a  flame-colored  sleeve  embroidered  with  fair  pearls 
of  price?"  To  this  the  King  of  North  Wales  replied:  "Lord,  we  know 
not  where  that  worshipful  champion  now  is.  For  although  we  besought 
him  to  come  hither  with  us,  and  although  we  besought  him  to  come  to  you 


THE  LADY  ELAINE  GRIEVETH  FOR  SIR  LAUNCELOT         xsx 

|so  that  you  might  award  unto  him  the  prize  of  battle,  yet  he  would  not 
For  he  proclaimed  himself  to  be  wounded  and  craved  our  leave  to  with- 
draw himself— wherefore  we  gave  him  that  leave  and  he  hied  him  away 
land  we  know  not  whither  he  hath  gone." 

"Now  I  am  right  sorry  for  that,"  quoth  King  Arthur,  "for  I  would 
[rather  have  that  knight  to  feast  with  us  than  any  one  of  all  those  who 
Iwear  spurs  in  this  hall.  And  I  am  still  more  sorry  to  hear  that  so  wor- 
:  shipful  a  champion  as  that  should  have  met  with  mishap  in  this  battle 
of  to-day.  Yet  do  I  hope  that  wound  which  he  suffered  is  not  so  sore  but 
it  hat  he  will  soon  be  well  again." 

"Lord,"  quoth  the  King  of  North  Wales,  "mefeareth  that  that  noble 
;  knight,  whomsoever  he  may  be,  hath  been  very  grievously  hurt ;  for  when 
j  he  spake  to  us  his  voice  was  passing  weak  and  he  appeared  to  suffer  a  great 
deal  of  pain." 

Then  King  Arthur  was  much  grieved  at  what  he  heard  and  he  said: 
"  That  is  sad  news  for  me,  for  rather  would  I  lose  half  of  my  kingdom  than 
that  death  should  befall  that  noble  champion."  So  said  King  Arthur, 
yet  he  would  not  say  who  was  that  champion  of  the  red  sleeve,  for  he 
perceived  that  Sir  Launcelot  would  fain  conceal  his  name,  wherefore 
neither  would  he  betray  it. 

Now  King  Pelles  sat  not  far  from  King  Arthur's  high  seat  at  the  table, 
and  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  sat  with  him  and  several  lords  of  their  court 
were  there  also.     These  heard  what  was  said  between  King    The  ^^ 
Arthur  and  the  King  of  North  Wales,  and  when  the  Lady   Elaine 
Elaine  the  Fair  heard  how  that  her  champion  was  so  sorely   grtt 
wounded  that  he  was  like  to  die,  it  was  as  though  a  sword  of  terror  had 
been  thust  into  her  bosom ;  for  hearing  those  words  she  turned  all  as  white 
as  ashes  and  sank  back  into  her  chair  as  though  she  would  swoon. 

Seeing  her  thus,  all  white  and  stricken,  King  Pelles  said,  "  Daughter,  what 
ails  thee?"  and  she  said:  "My  father,  did  you  not  hear  how  that  the 
Chevalier  Malfait  hath  been  sorely  wounded  and  mayhap  may  be  even  now 
lying  nigh  to  death?"  "Yea,  I  did  hear  that,"  said  King  Pelles,  "but 
such  is  the  chance  of  battle  that  every  good  knight  is  called  upon  to  face." 
Then  the  Lady  Elaine  cried  out:  "Father!  Father!  I  am  sorely  afraid 
that  great  ill  hath  befallen  that  noble  knight.  Now  I  pray  thee,  let  us 
go  hence. "  King  Pelles  said,  "  Whither  shall  we  go? "  She  said :  "  Haply, 
my  brother,  Sir  Lavaine,  will  bring  him  to  the  castle  of  the  earl  our  kins- 
man, wherefore  I  pray  you,  sir,  let  us  make  haste  thither  and  see  i 
be  so."  And  King  Pelles  said,  "  It  shall  be  as  you  will  have  it." 

So  King  Pelles  besought  leave  of  King  Arthur  to  quit  that  feast,  and 


152    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

King  Arthur  gave  him  leave  and  King  Pelles  withdrew  with  the  Lady 
Elaine  and  all  of  his  court  from  that  company. 

Yet  when  they  returned  to  the  castle  of  the  earl,  Sir  Launcelot  was  not 
there,  for,  as  hath  been  told,  he  lay  at  that  time  in  the  hermit's  cell  in  the 
forest  with  his  soul  hanging  in  the  scales  betwixt  life  and  death. 

But  King  Arthur  ever  bore  in  mind  how  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  had 
been  wounded,  wherefore,  when  that  feast  was  over,  he  took  Sir  Gawaine 
Kin  Arthur  as^e'  an(^  ne  sa^  to  nmi  :  "  Sir,  ^  would  that  you  would  seek 
speaketh  to  out  that  knight  of  the  red  sleeve  where  he  is  and  bring  him 
Sir  Gawaine.  a{d  and  succor  »  sir  Gawaine  said:  "Lord,  I  pray  you  tell 
me;  know  you  who  is  that  knight?  Methinks  he  should  be  Sir  Launce- 
lot of  the  Lake,  for  I  know  of  no  other  than  he  who  could  do  so  nobly  in 
battle  as  that  champion  did  to-day.  And  yet,  he  cannot  be  Sir  Launce- 
lot, for  you  wist  very  well  that  Sir  Launcelot  would  not  wear  the  favor 
of  any  lady  in  such  a  wise  as  he  wore  the  sleeve  about  his  helm  to-day. 
So  I  know  not  who  that  knight  can  be." 

"Well,"  said  King  Arthur,  "when  you  have  succored  him  then  you  will 
know  who  he  is." 

So  Sir  Gawaine  withdrew  from  the  court  to  seek  that  wounded  cham- 
pion. And  he  remembered  him  that  the  knight  had  called  himself  le 
Chevalier  Malfait  and  that  his  companion-in-arms  was  Sir 
Lavaine,  the  son  of  King  Pelles  of  Corbin.  So  Sir  Gawaine 


search  of  sir  went  to  where  were  a  number  of  knights  who  knew  of  King 
Pelles,  and  he  asked  of  these  and  of  several  others  :  "  Know  ye, 
Messires,  where  I  shall  find  King  Pelles  of  Corbin?"  They  say  to  him, 
"King  Pelles  is  lodging  at  such  and  such  a  place."  So  Sir  Gawaine  took 
horse  and  rode  forth  to  the  castle  of  the  earl  with  whom  King  Pelles  had 
taken  up  his  lodging,  and  King  Pelles  and  his  court  were  still  at  that  place. 
Then  Sir  Gawaine  made  demand  to  have  speech  with  King  Pelles  and 
therewith  he  was  brought  before  the  King  where  he  was.  And  the  Lady 
Elaine  the  Fair  was  with  King  Pelles  at  that  time,  and  Sir  Gawaine,  when 
he  beheld  her,  was  amazed  at  her  beauty. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  said  to  King  Pelles:  "Fair  Lord,  can  you  tell  me 
where  I  shall  find  that  wounded  knight  who  called  himself  le  Chevalier 
Malfait?"  King  Pelles  said,  "Alas!  I  know  not  where  he  is."  Sir  Ga- 
waine said,  "Lord,  I  pray  you  tell  me  who  he  is  and  what  is  his  name." 
To  this  King  Pelles  made  reply  :  "  Messire,  I  know  not  who  that  knight  is 
saving  only  that  he  came  to  us  somewhat  more  than  a  year  ago  and 
that  he  slew  the  great  Dragon  of  Corbin  ;  and  that  he  was  sorely  wounded 
in  his  encounter  with  the  Dragon.  Since  that  he  hath  abided  at  our 


SIR  GAWAINE  KNOWETH  THE  SHIELD  OF  SIR  LAUNCEWT    153 

3ourt  but  never  have  we  known  him  by  any  other  name  than  le  Chevalier 
Malfait." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  said :  "  Now  I  pray  you  tell  me  who  was  the  lady  who 
gave  her  sleeve  as  a  favor  unto  that  knight,  for  no  doubt  she  may  know 
who  he  is." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  said:  "Messire,  it  was  I  who  gave  my  sleeve  to 
lim,  yet  neither  do  I  know  who  he  is  nor  whence  he  came." 

Sir  Gawaine  said:  "Have  you  naught  that  you  may  know  him  by?" 
Whereunto  the  Lady  Elaine  made  reply:  " Sir,  by  leave  of  our  cousin,  the 
jearl  of  this  castle,  I  purveyed  armor  in  which  le  Chavelier  Malfait  might 
!do  battle  in  this  tournament.  Now  when  he  quitted  us  he  confided  his 
armor  and  his  shield  to  me  that  I  might  hold  them  in  safe  keeping  for 
him  until  his  return  hither.  Perhaps  you  can  tell  from  his  shield  who 
is  that  worshipful  knight." 

Sir  Gawaine  said :  "  I  prithee,  fair  lady,  tell  me  what  device  was  painted 
upon  the  shield? "  And  the  Lady  Elaine  said:  "  I  know  not  what  was  that 
device  for  the  shield  was  all  encased  in  leather  laced  upon  it  and  painted 
white  so  that  no  one  might  see  the  device  which  it  beareth." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "Let  me  see  that  shield."    And  thereupon  the 
Lady  Elaine  sent  her  attendants  to  fetch  the  shield  and  they  brought  it 
to  her  where  they  were.     Then  Sir  Gawaine  unlaced  the  leather  from  the 
shield  and  drew  the  shield  forth  from  its  case,  and  le!  the  shield  shone  all 
dazzling  bright,  like  to  the  sun  in  his  glory.    And  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  the 
device  upon  the  shield  that  it  was  a  knight  kneeling  to  a   sirGawaine 
lady  upon  a  field  of  silver,  and  by  that  he  knew  (and  several   knowetk  sir 
others  who  were  there  knew)  that  it  was  the  shield  of  Sir   ^JJJj**** 
Launcelot.     Thereupon  Sir  Gawaine  turned  him  to  the  Lady- 
Elaine  the  Fair  and  he  said:  "  Lady,  it  is  no  wonder  that  this  knight  who 
hath  worn  thy  favor  should  have  done  so  well  in  battle  yesterday.    For 
wit  ye  that  this  is  the  shield  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  and  wit  ye 
that  it  is  to  none  other  than  he  to  whom  you  gave  your  sleeve.    So  I  wish 
you  much  joy  of  that  great  honor  that  hath  come  to  you  through  him; 
for  you  are  to  know  that  never  hath  it  ever  been  heard  tell  of  before  this 
that  Sir  Launcelot  hath  worn  the  favor  of  any  lady  when  he  hath  gone 
to  battle." 

But  as  for  the  Lady  Elaine,  when  she  knew  that  it  was  Sir  Launcel 
of  the  Lake  to  whom  she  had  given  her  sleeve,  she  was  filled  full  of  a  great 
joy  and  also  with  a  sort  of  terror.     For  she  had  much  joy  that  she  *   ould 
have  been  so  wonderfully  honored  by  that  noble  knight  Sir  Launc 
the  Lake,  and  yet  when  she  bethought  herself  how  she  had  set  her  regard 


iS4   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

upon  him  who  regarded  no  lady  in  the  light  of  love  she  was  filled  with  a 
sort  of  terror  because  she  forecast  that  nothing  but  sorrow  could  come 
to  her  who  had  placed  her  heart  and  all  her  happiness  in  the  keeping  of 
this  knight,  who  had  no  heart  or  happiness  to  bestow  upon  any  lady  in 
return. 

But  King  Pelles  was  unaware  of  what  thoughts  lay  within  the  heart  of 
his  daughter.  His  spirit  was  greatly  uplifted  with  the  thought  that  Sir 
Launcelot  should  have  been  a  knight  of  his  court  for  so  long  a  while  and 
he  said :  "  Messire,  this  is  a  very  wonderful  thing  that  you  tell  us,  for  wh$ 
would  have  thought  that  he  was  Sir  Launcelot  who  has  been  with  us  all 
this  time?  Now  I  know  not  any  glory  that  could  come  to  us  that  should  be 
greater  than  that;  to  wit,  to  have  had  that  noble,  worthy,  and  glorious 
champion  for  to  serve  as  a  knight  of  our  court.  For  now,  because  of  him, 
this  court  hath  become  famous  for  all  time,  that  otherwise  would  not  have 
been  known  very  far  or  for  a  very  long  while." 

"  Lord,"  said  Sir  Gawaine,  "  I  do  indeed  give  you  great  joy  of  this  honor 
that  you  have  had  through  him ;  for  I  must  tell  you  that  yours  is  the  only 
court  in  all  the  world  in  which  Sir  Launcelot  has  ever  served  as  champion, 
saving  only  in  the  Court  of  King  Arthur.  Wherefore  this  is  a  very  singular 
honor  that  hath  been  visited  upon  you." 

So  spake  King  Pelles  and  so  spake  Sir  Gawaine;  but  all  that  while  the 
Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  sat  in  silence  saying  naught  to  any  one  for  her  soul 
was  so  deeply  disturbed  with  joy  and  pride  that  Sir  Launcelot  should  have 
been  her  champion,  and  with  fear  and  anxiety  upon  behalf  of  her  knight 
— that  she  wist  not  very  well  what  was  being  done  or  said  by  any  of  those 
who  sat  around  about  her. 

That  night  Sir  Gawaine  abided  at  the  Court  of  Corbin,  and  there  was  a 
great  feast  prepared  for  his  entertainment  and  all  honor  and  regard  was 
paid  to  him  that  was  possible  to  pay  any  man,  even  were  that  man  a  king. 
And  at  that  feast  Sir  Gawaine  sat  at  the  right  hand  of  King  Pelles  and  the 
Lady  Elaine  sat  upon  the  left  hand  of  the  King.  And  Sir  Gawaine  and  the 
King  talked  a  very  great  deal  together,  yet  ever  the  Lady  Elaine  sat 
wrapped  in  silence,  very  distraught,  passing  by  her  food  without  tasting  of 
it.  For  always  her  thoughts  dwelt  upon  Sir  Launcelot  as  aforesaid,  and 
ever  her  heart  was  filled  with  anxiety  as  to  what  had  befallen  him  and  where 
he  was,  and  how  it  fared  with  him  and  who  was  cherishing  him  in  his  sick- 
ness and  his  pain.  Yea,  even,  she  wondered  whether  he  was  living  or 
whether  he  was  dead.  Wherefore  it  was  she  knew  not  what  passed  about 
her,  but  sat  silent  with  her  spirit  remote  and  afar  off  from  all  those  who 
made  merry  and  laughed  and  talked  and  jested  so  nigh  to  her. 


THE   QUEEN  BESPEAKETH  SIR  BORS 

jj 

For  the  soul  in  such  times  of  trouble  and  anxiety  is  oftentimes  very 
solitary  and  silent ;  ever  wrapped  in  its  own  broody  thoughts  like  to  a  spirit 
wrapped  in  a  cloud  of  darkness  that  shutteth  out  from  its  sight  all  the 
bright  world  of  gayety  and  rejoicing  that  lieth  around  about  it.  And  so  it 
was  with  the  Lady  Elaine  at  this  season. 

Now,  when  the  morning  had  come,  Sir  Gawaine  departed  from  that  place 
to  return  to  the  King's  court  which  was  still  at  Astolat,  there  to  bring  them 
news  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  who  had  fought  in  that  battle  and  that  it 
was  he  who  had  been  wounded. 

But  when  that  news  came  to  Queen  Guinevere  she  was  filled  full  of  a 
great  passion  of  anger  and  of  indignation  against  Sir  Launcelot  Q^^  G^^. 
and  against  the  Lady  Elaine.  For  it  is  to  be  remembered  wre  is  angered. 
that  Sir  Launcelot  had  vowed  his  vows  of  service  unto  Queen  Guinevere, 
and  she  upon  her  part  had  accepted  those  vows  and  acknowledged  him 
as  her  knight-champion.  Wherefore  it  was  that  finding  he  had  worn  the 
favor  of  another  lady  in  that  wise,  she  was  filled  with  a  most  consuming 
passion  of  anger.  At  first  she  would  not  believe  that  it  was  true  that  Sir 
Launcelot  had  worn  the  sleeve,  and  when  she  was  convinced  that  it  was  true 
she  withdrew  herself  from  the  sight  of  all,  and  went  and  locked  herself  into 
her  chamber — and  how  it  was  with  her  in  that  place  no  one  could  tell. 

Then,  after  a  while,  she  sent  for  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  who  was  the  nighest 
of  kin  to  Sir  Launcelot  of  all  those  then  at  court.    And  the   gueen  Guine 
Queen  said  to  Sir  Bors :  "  What  is  this  your  kinsman  hath  done,    vere  bespeaketh 
Messire  ?    He  hath  forsworn  himself  and  is  shamed  of  his  knight-   ' 
hood  in  my  sight  and  in  the  sight  of  all.     For  who  ever  heard  of  any  knight 
of  worship  who  would  swear  his  faith  to  one  lady  and  yet  wear  the  favor 
of  another?     So  I  say  this  knight  is  forsworn  and  is  no  true  knight." 

Quoth  Sir  Bors:  "  Lady,  there  is  no  man  in  all  the  world  who  would  dare 
to  say  to  me  that  Sir  Launcelot  is  shamed  of  his  knighthood,  but  you  may 
say  that  because  you  are  a  lady.  Now  I  pray  you  tell  me  why  should 
not  Sir  Launcelot  wear  the  favor  of  so  kind  and  so  beautiful  a  lady  as  that 
of  the  Lady  Elaine,  the  King's  daughter  of  Corbin?  Such  service  cannot 
injure  you,  who  have  always  to  your  service  so  high  and  noble  a  knight 
as  King  Arthur  himself!" 

So  spake  Sir  Bors  very  sternly,  and  therewith  Queen  Guinevere  s  cheeks 
flamed  like  fire  and  she  stamped  her  foot  upon  the  ground  in  wrath  and 
cried  out  in  a  very  loud  voice:  "  Do  you  dare  to  speak  thus  to  me  who  am 
your  Queen?  I  say  this  unworthy  knight  is  forsworn  in  that  he  sware  his 
faith  to  me,  and  that  he  came  not  to  me  to  relieve  him  of  that  vow  ere 


156     THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

accepted  the  favor  of  another  lady.  Now  I  bid  you  go,  find  Sir  Launcelot 
and  bring  him  straightway  hither  that  he  may  answer  me  to  my  face  and 
that  he  may  clear  himself  if  he  is  able  of  that  unknightly  faithlessness." 

Then  Sir  Bors  was  filled  with  indignation  against  the  Queen  and  at  the 
same  time  he  was  filled  with  great  pity  for  her.  For  many  things  came 
into  his  mind  at  that  time,  wherefore  he  did  not  choose  to  look  into  the 
Queen's  face,  but  only  bowed  low  before  her  and  said :  "  Lady,  it  shall  be 
as  you  command.  I  shall  straightway  go  seek  my  kinsman  and  will  bring 
your  commands  to  him  that  he  shall  come  and  present  himself  before  you." 
So  forthwith  Sir  Bors  departed  from  the  court  to  seek  Sir 
parteth  in  Launcelot.  But  after  he  had  left  her  the  Queen  went  into 
search  of  sir  her  privy  closet  and  fast  locked  herself  in.  And  she  wept 
amain;  and  as  she  wept  she  communed  in  solitude  with  her 
soul,  saying:  "My  soul!  My  soul!  Is  it  anger  thou  feelest  or  is  it  aught 
else  than  anger?" 


irLauncelot  leaped?  from 

winboun 


Chapter  Sixth 

How    the  Lady  Elaine    went   to   seek   Sir  Launcelot  and  how  Sir 
Launcelot  afterwards  returned  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur. 

NOW  ever  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair,  as  aforesaid,  took  great  grief 
beyond    all    measure  concerning  the  fate  of  Sir  Launcelot. 
For  he  lay  wounded  she  knew  not  where  and  she  knew  not 
whether  he  were  healing  or  dying.     So  upon  a  day  she  came  to  her  father, 
King  Pelles,  where  he  was,  and  she  had  been  weeping  a  great  deal — yea, 
even  whilst  she  spoke  to  her  father  she  began  weeping  afresh.     So,  still 
weeping,  she  said:  "Sire,  I  pray  thee  let  me  go  and  seek  for  this  noble 
champion,  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake,  where  he  lieth  wounded,  for  me- 
feareth  he  hath  been  so  grievously  hurt  that  he  may  even  now  be  upon 
the  edge  of  death." 

Then  King  Pelles  said:  "My  daughter,  what  is  this  thou  wouldst  do? 
Wouldst  thou,  a  young  damsel,  go  thyself  errant  in  search  of  this  wounded 
knight?"  and  the  Lady  Elaine  said,- "Yea."  The  King,  her  father  said, 
"This  may  not  be."  Then  the  Lady  Elaine  wept  all  the  more  and  with 
such  passion  that  it  was  as  though  her  heart  would  break.  And  therewith 
she  kneeled  down  before  her  father  and  cried  most  vehemently:  "Sire,  let 
me  go !  Else  I  believe  I  shall  become  distracted  with  my  fears  lest  he  be 
dying  of  his  wounds." 

Then  King  Pelles  was  very  sorry  for  the  Lady  Elaine  and  he  lifted  her 
up  and  embraced  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her  upon  the  face.  And  King 
Pelles  sought  to  comfort  her,  wiping  away  the  tears  from  her  face.  And 
he  said,  "  My  daughter,  weep  not  so."  She  said,  "  Lord,  I  cannot  help  it." 
Then  he  said:  "  My  daughter,  weep  no  more,  for  it  shall  be  as  thou  wouldst 
have  it.  Go  now  in  God's  name  upon  this  quest,  if  ^so  be  it  will  ease  thy 
heart  to  do  so,  and  I  will  send  safe  escort  with  thee." 

So  it  was  that  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  went  upon  that 
quest  in  search  of  Sir  Launcelot,  and  her  father  purveyed  for 
her  such  an  escort  as  he  had  said.  For  he  sent  with  her  a 
company  of  seven  worthy  and  noble  knights  with  their  es- 
quires and  attendants;  and  seven  damsels  of  her  court  also  went  with  her. 


160   THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

These  betook  their  way  to  Astolat,  for  it  seemed  to  the  Lady  Elaine  that 
there  they  might  best  hope  to  have  news  of  the  wounded  knight.  And 
when  they  had  come  to  Astolat  she  took  up  her  inn  at  that  place,  and 
sent  forth  several  to  make  diligent  inquiry  if  any  news  might  be  heard  of 
the  wounded  knight. 

So  those  whom  she  sent  made  inquiry  upon  all  sides,  and  upon  a  certain 
day,  they  found  a  wood-chopper  who  had  come  out  of  the  forest  with  a 
cart  load  of  wooden  fagots.  This  woodman  brought  news  of  Sir  Launcelot 
and  of  Sir  Lavaine  ;  for  he  declared  that  he  had  seen  them  when  they  had 
entered  the  forest  after  the  tournament.  So  her  agents  brought  the 
wood-chopper  to  where  the  Lady  Elaine  was,  and  she  said  to  him,  "  What 
knowest  thou,  good  fellow?" 

To  this  the  woodman  made  reply:  "Lady,  I  will  tell  you  all.  One 
whiles  I  was  in  the  forest  I  heard  the  sound  of  voices 


The  -woodman 

tctteth  of  Sir  talking  together,  and  greatly  wondering  what  those  voices 
Launcelot.  were,  I  made  my  way  privily  to  that  place  where  I  heard  them 
speaking.  There  I  beheld  a  half  -armed  knight  who  lay  upon  the  ground 
all  bathed  in  his  own  blood,  and  another  knight,  armed  at  all  points,  stood 
beside  this  knight,  and  the  hands  of  the  second  knight  were  all  red  with 
blood.  So  methought  that  the  armed  knight  had  haply  slain  his  fellow 
there  in  the  woodlands  in  foul  wise,  for  so  it  appeared  to  be.  So  whilst  I 
stood  there  I  heard  that  knight  who  lay  on  the  ground  complaining  very 
grievously  that  he  was  hurt  nigh  to  death,  and  I  heard  him  entreat  that 
knight  who  was  armed  that  he  should  bear  him  to  the  westward  and  so 
by  a  forest  path  to  the  cabin  of  a  certain  hermit  that  dwelleth  in  those 
parts.  Therewith  I  went  away  from  that  place  as  privily  as  I  had  come 
thither,  for  methought  that  maybe  some  ill  deed  had  been  done  at  that 
place  and  that  so  I  should  be  punished  if  I  meddled  in  it  ;  wherefore  I  went 
away  and  left  those  two  knights  in  that  wise." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  asked  that  woodman  if  one  of  those 
horses  was  white  and  the  other  piebald  and  he  said:  "Yea,  as  white  as 
milk  and  piebald  with  white  and  black.  And  the  Lady  said,  "  Then  that 
must  be  they." 

So  that  same  day  she  and  her  company  made  them  ready  and  they  rode 
away  from  Astolat  and  so  came  into  the  forest  toward  the 
westward.     And  after  a  while  they  came  to  a  path  that  went 
to  the  forest        across  the  way  and  they  took  that  path  to  the  right  hand.     So 
they  travelled  that  path  for  a  great  while,  and  by  and  by  they 
beheld  before  them  the  hut  of  the  hermit  where  it  was  all  built  up  against 
a  great  rock  of  the  forest  and  overshadowed  by  the  thick  foliage  of  the 


THE   LADY  FINDETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  IN  THE  FOREST     161 

aged  oak  tree  that  grew  above  it.  Then  as  they  drew  near  they  heard  the 
neighing  of  horses  and  they  wist  that  they  must  be  the  horses  of  Sir  Launce- 
lot  and  of  Sir  Lavaine. 

Then,  as  the  horses  neighed  in  that  wise,  and  as  the  horses  of  the  Lady 
Elaine's  party  answered  their  neighing,  there  came  one  and  opened  the 
door  of  the  hut  and  stood  gazing  at  the  Lady  Elaine  and  her  party  as  they 
drew  near,  shading  his  eyes  from  the  slanting  sun.  And  the  Lady  Elaine 
beheld  who  it  was  who  stood  there  and  she  knew  that  it  was  Sir  Lavaine, 
wherefore  she  cried  out  in  a  loud  and  piercing  voice,  "My  brother!  My 
brother!"  Then  Sir  Lavaine,  when  he  heard  her,  cried  out  upon  his  part 
as  in  great  amazement,  "My  sister,  is  it  thou?"  and  therewith  he  ran  to 
her  and  he  took  her  hand  and  she  stooped  from  her  horse  and  kissed  his 

lips. 

Then  she  said  to  Sir  Lavaine,  "How  is  it  with  him,  doth  he  live?" 
Whereunto  Sir  Lavaine  said,  "Yea,  he  liveth  and  will  live,  albeit  he  is 
weak  like  to  a  little  child."  She  said,  "Where  is  he?"  And  Sir  Lavaine 
said,  "  Come  and  you  shall  see." 

So  he  lifted  the  Lady  Elaine  down  from  her  horse  and  he  took  her  by 
the  hand  and  led  her  into  the  hut  of  the  hermit  and  there  she    ^  ^ 
beheld  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  lay  upon  a  pallet  and  lo!  his   EM*  behold- 
face  was  white  like  to  white  wax  and  his  eyes  were  closed  as   g^y, 
though  in  slumber  and  it  seemed  to  the  Lady  Elaine  that 
he  rather  resembled  a  white  and  sleeping  spirit  than  a  living  man. 

So  the  Lady  Elaine  went  silently  forward  to  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay 
and  she  kneeled  down  beside  the  pallet  and  the  tears  ran  down  her  face 
like  to  sparks  of  fire.  Therewith  Sir  Launcelot  opened  his  eyes  and  he  be- 
held her  who  she  was  and  he  smiled  upon .tor  And  *  If" 
"Is  it  thou?"  She  said:  "Yea,  Messire."  He  said  Whence 
thou?"  She  said,  "I  come  from  my  fathers  house  He  sai 
have  you  come  hitherward  from  thence  only  for  to  find  me? ,  ^hereunto 
she  said  "Yea"  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Why  have  you  token  so  grea 
rouSe  as  that  upon  my  account?"  And  at  that  she 
and  said,  "Certes,  thou  knowest  why."  ^\ 
whisper,  and  so  that  I  believe  they  two  alone  heard 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  no  more  but  lay  gazing 
see  naught  but  her  head,  for  her  face  was  hidden  from 
while  heg  sighed  very  deep  and  said:  "Lady, 
man.     ^  even  though  ^ 
reach  out  my  hand  to  take  it.     For  my  fail  ^ liet^  p  J    be       ht  to  me 
of  one  with  whom  I  have  placed  it  and  that  one  can 


162    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND   ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

but  what  she  now  is.  And  it  is  my  unhappy  lot  that  whether  it  be  wrong 
or  whether  it  be  right  I  would  not  have  it  otherwise,  and  so  my  faith 
remaineth  pledged  as  aforesaid." 

Now  the  Lady  Elaine  wist  what  Sir  Launcelot  meant  and  that  he  spoke 

of  the  Lady  Queen  Guinevere  unto  whom  he  had  vowed  his 

fijiteSSJ     faith  of  knighthood.     And  Elaine  wept  and  she  said,  "Alas, 

Elaine  com-       Launcelot,  I  have  great  pity  both  for  thee  and  for  me."     And 

mune  together.    ^  t^t  ^  Launcelot  sighed  again  as  from  the  bottom  of  his 

heart  and  said,  "Yea,  it  is  great  pity." 

Then  after  a  while  the  Lady  Elaine  came  out  from  where  Sir  Launcelot 
lay,  and  she  gave  command  that  they  should  abide  at  that  place  until  the 
wounded  knight  was  healed  of  his  hurt.  So  the  Lady  Elaine  established 
her  court  there  in  the  forest  nigh  to  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay.  And  they 
set  up  pavilions  around  about  that  place  so  that  all  that  erstwhile  lonely 
and  silent  woodland  was  presently  gay  with  bright  colors  and  cheerful 
with  the  sound  of  many  voices. 

And  methinks  that  these  days,  whilst  the  Lady  Elaine  dwelt  there  in 
the  forest  nigh  to  the  chapel  of  the  good  old  hermit  of  the  forest,  and 
whilst  she  abided  ever  close  to  Sir  Launcelot  in  that  time  of  his  grievous 
sickness,  were  the  happiest  days  of  all  her  life  unto  that  time.  For  it 
was  as  though  Sir  Launcelot  were  all  her  own  and  as  though  there  was 
none  in  the  world  but  they  two.  For  ever  she  was  nigh  to  him  and 
cherished  him  in  all  ways,  the  whiles  the  voices  of  those  others  who  were 
there  sounded  remote  and  afar  off  as  though  they  were  of  a  different  world 
than  hers. 

So  ever  the  Lady  Elaine  drank  deep  draughts  of  love  and  joy,  and 
thought  not  of  the  morrow,  but  only  of  the  day  and  of  the  joys  that  the 
day  set  to  the  lips  of  her  soul,  as  it  were,  in  a  bright,  shining  chalice  of 
pure  gold. 

For  so  it  is,  oftentimes,  that  the  soul  drinketh  deep  from  that  chalice 
and  reckoneth  not  that  at  the  bottom  of  the  cup  there  lyeth  the  dregs 
of  sorrow  or  of  despair  that  must  by  and  by  likewise  be  quaffed,  and 
which,  when  drunk,  must  turn  all  the  life  thereafter  to  bitterness,  as 
though  those  dregs  were  compounded  of  the  gall  and  of  the  wormwood  of 
death. 

Thus  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair  abided  with  her  court  there  in  the  forest 
for  nigh  a  month  and  by  the  end  of  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  was  healed  of 
his  infirmities,  though  like  to  a  little  child  for  weakness.  And  after  he  was 
healed  she  then  had  a  fair  litter  prepared  with  several  soft  cushions  of 
down.  And  she  had  that  litter  hung  with  hangings  of  flame-colored  satin ; 


SIR   BORS   BESPEAKETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  l63 

and  she  had  them  lay  Sir  Launcelot  therein  and  so  they  bore  him  thence 
Thus  they  bore  him  in  that  litter  by  easy  stages  until  they   The  retun 
had  brought  him  to  Corbin  and  there  he  was  received  with   to  %»*»• 
great  rejoicing  and  high  honor. 

Now  it  hath  been  told  how  that  Queen  Guinevere  bade  Sir  Bors  for  to 
go  seek  Sir  Launcelot  and  to  bear  him  a  command  for  to  return  to  the 
court  of  the  King.  So  Sir  Bors  did  as  the  Queen  bade  him,  but  he  did  not 
find  Sir  Launcelot  until  after  he  had  been  brought  back  to  Corbin  as  afore- 
told  of. 

Thereafter  it  happened  that  one  day  Sir  Bors  had  news  that  Sir  Launce- 
lot was  lying  at   the  court  of  King  Pelles.      So  he  went    sir  Bors  cometh 
thither  and  there  he  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  who  was  then  well-   to  Cor^. 
nigh  entirely  recovered  from  his  wound. 

But  when  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  Sir  Bors,  such  joy  seized  upon  him  that 
it  was  as  though  his  heart  would  break,  wherefore  he  ran  to  Sir  Bors  and 
he  catched  him  in  his  arms,  and  embraced  him  with  great  passion  and 
kissed  him  many  times  upon  the  face. 

And  they  of  the  court  of  King  Pelles  were  very  glad  that  so  famous  a 
knight  had  come  thither,  wherefore  they  paid  him  great  honor. 

Only  the  Lady  Elaine  was  troubled  in  spirit,  for  she  wist  that  now  Sir 
Bors  was  come  Sir  Launcelot  would  not  stay  with  them  for  long,  but  that 
he  would  in  a  little  while  desire  to  return  again  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur. 

And  so  she  had  reason  for  her  fears,  for  the  next  day  after  he  had  arrived 
at  Corbin,  Sir  Bors  took  Sir  Launcelot  aside  and  he  said  to   sir  Bors 
him,  "Sir  Knight,  I  am  a  messenger."     Sir  Launcelot  said,    ^^^ 
"  What  message  have  you,  and  from  whom?"     Sir  Bors  said: 
"  I  bear  a  message  from  Queen  Guinevere  and  it  is  that  you  return  im- 
mediately to  the  court  of  King  Arthur  and  that  you  present  yourself  to 
her  and  pay  your  duty  to  her  as  of  old." 

Then  after  Sir  Bors  had  thus  spoken,  Sir  Launcelot  turned  him  away 
and  stood  at  a  window  with  his  back  to  Sir  Bors.  And  then  after  a  con- 
siderable while  he  said,  " Sir,  do  you  not  know  that  my  duty  lieth  here?" 
Sir  Bors  said:  "  That  I  believe  full  well.  Nor  can  I  find  fault  with  you  il 
you  remain  here  in  spite  of  the  message  I  bring  you.  That  which  I  am 
here  for  is  not  to  command  you  to  come  to  Camelot,  but  only  to  give  you 
the  commands  of  another." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  Would  you  return  to  Camelot  if  you  were  me 
and  I  were  you?"  Sir  Bors  said,  "That  I  cannot  tell."  Then  after  an- 
other while  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out:  "Nay,  I  will  not  go;  for  though  my 


164   THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE   THE  FAIR 

heart  lieth  there  and  not  here,  yet  I  hold  the  happiness  of  another  in  my 
hand  and  I  cannot  cast  it  away." 

"  Then,"  quoth  Sir  Bors,  "  I  will  return  and  tell  them  at  the  court  of  the 
King  that  your  honor  binds  you  here."  And  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "  Do  so/' 
And  then  he  said,  "There  is  but  one  favor  I  beseech  of  you,  Messire." 
Sir  Bors  said,  "What  is  that?"  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "It  is  this:  I  pray 
you  of  your  courtesy  that  you  will  depart  immediately  from  this  place, 
for  the  sight  of  you  bringeth  to  me  such  great  desire  to  behold  my  kins- 
men and  my  friends  once  more  that  I  believe  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
contain  myself  because  of  that  desire  if  you  remain  here  any  longer." 
And  Sir  Bors  said,  "  I  will  go  within  the  hour." 

So  that  very  hour  Sir  Bors  betook  himself  away  from  Corbin  and  re- 
turned to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  when  he  had  come  there  he  deliv- 
ered his  message  to  the  Queen  and  thereat  she  was  like  one  whose  heart 
had  been  broken.  For  when  she  received  that  news  from  Sir  Launcelot  she 
withdrew  into  her  bower  and  no  one  saw  her  for  a  long  time  thereafter. 

Now  after  Sir  Bors  had  departed  from  Corbin  in  that  wise,  Sir  Launcelot 
was  very  heavy  and  sad,  and  though  several  days  went  by,  yet  was  he 
not  less  sad  at  the  end  of  that  time,  but  still  walked  like  one  in  a  dream 
with  his  thoughts  a  great  way  off. 

And  all  this  the  Lady  Elaine  observed  and  her  spirit  was  troubled  be- 
cause of  the  sadness  of  Sir  Launcelot.  So  one  day  she  sent  for  Sir  Launce- 
lot  to  come  to  her  bower  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  come 
blddeth  thither  she  said  to  him,  "  Launcelot,  I  know  what  is  in  thy 


heart."  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "What  is  there  in  my  heart?" 
She  said,  "  It  is  in  thy  heart  that  thou  wouldst  fain  return 
to  the  court  of  King  Arthur."  "Lady,"  said  Sir  Launcelot,  "it  matters 
not  what  may  be  my  inclination  at  this  present,  for  above  all  those  inclina- 
tions it  is  my  will  that  I  remain  at  this  place." 

Then  Elaine  looked  very  steadfastly  at  him  and  she  smiled,  but  there 
was  as  it  were  despair  in  her  face  even  though  she  smiled.  And  after  a 
little  she  said  :  "  Not  so,  Messire,  for  I  cannot  bear  to  see  you  dwell  with  us 
thus  in  sadness.  Wherefore,  this  command  I  lay  upon  you  that  you  leave 
this  court  and  that  you  return  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  which  same  is 
the  place  where  you  do  rightly  belong." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  away  from  her,  for  he  wist  that  there  was 
joy  in  his  face  at  the  thought  of  returning  to  his  kinsmen  and  his  friends 
once  more,  and  he  would  not  have  her  see  that  joy.  Then  after  a  while, 
and  with  his  back  turned,  he  said,  speaking  as  with  a  smothered  voice: 
"  Lady,  if  that  be  your  command  I  must  needs  obey,  but  if  I  do  obey  you 


THE  QUEEN  INSULTETH  SIR  LAVNCELOT  l6s 

it  shall  be  only  to  go  for  a  little  while  and  then  to  return  after  that  while  » 
So  for  a  little  no  more  was  said,  but  the  Lady  Elaine  ever  gazed  upon  Sir 
Launcelot  where  he  stood  with  his  back  to  her,  and  after  a  while  she  said 
"Ah     Launcelot!  Launcelot!"     Upon    that    Sir    Launcelot   turned   Mm 
about  and  cried  out,     Elaine,  bid  me  stay  and  I  will  stay  t "    But  she  said 
"  Nay,  I  bid  thee  not,  I  bid  thee  go." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  went  from  that  place  with  his  head  bowed  down 
upon  his  bosom,  and  after  he  had  gone  she  wept  in  great  measure,  for  it 
was  as  though  she  had  cut  off  her  hope  of  happiness  with  her  own  hand,  as 
though  it  had  been  a  part  of  her  body. 

So  the  next  day  Sir  Launcelot  took  horse  and  departed  from  Corbin, 
betaking  his  way  toward  Camelot,  where  was  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  and  though  he  thought  a  very  great  deal  of  the    SJ^Sftf* 
Lady  Elaine,  yet  he  could  not  but  look  forward  with  joy  in    court' 
coming  back  again  to  the  court  of  the  King  and  of  beholding  the  Queen 
and  his  knights  companions  once  more. 

Now  when  Sir  Launcelot  reached  Camelot  the  news  of  his  coming  spread 
like  fire  throughout  the  entire  place  and  everywhere  was  heard   ^  Lau 
the  noise  of  loud  rejoicing  and  acclaim.     But  Sir  Launcelot    comethtothe 
spake  to  nobody  but  came  straight  to  where  Queen  Guine-   ^veen- 
vere  was  and  he  stood  before  the  Queen  and  his  face  was  very  gloomy  and 
he  said  to  her,  "  Lady,  here  am  I." 

Then  Queen  Guinevere  gazed  at  him  with  great  coldness  and  she  said 
to  him,  "Sir  Knight,  what  brings  thee  hither?"  Sir  Launcelot  said: 
"  Lady,  it  is  thy  command  that  brings  me.  For  alas!  I  find  it  to  be  thus 
with  me  that  thy  word  hath  power  to  bring  me  to  thee  whether  it  be  from 
glory  or  from  happiness  or  from  peace  or  from  prosperity.  Yea ;  all  these 
things  would  I  sacrifice  at  thy  behest." 

Then  Queen  Guinevere  gazed  upon  Sir  Launcelot  for  a  long  while  and 
her  soul  was  tossed  and  troubled  with  a  great  ferment  of  passion,  and  yet 
she  wist  not  whether  that  passion  was  of  indignation  or  of  grief  or  of  anger 
or  of  something  else  that  was  not  like  any  of  these.  And  first  her  face  had 
been  very  white  when  he  stood  before  her,  and  anon  it  flamed  red  like  to 
fire,  and  she  said:  "Sir  Knight,  one  time  I  sent  my  word  to  thee  by  a 
messenger  and  thou  heeded  him  not.  Now  it  matters  not  that  thou  comest, 
for  thy  coming  and  thy  going  are  henceforth  of  no  moment  to  me. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot's  heart  was  filled  to  bursting  with  bitterness  and 
despair,  and  he  cried  out  aloud:  "Lady,  thou  beholdest  me  a  miserable 
man.  For  I  have  left  all  my  duty  and  all  my  service  and  all  my  hope  of 


i66    THE  STORY   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND   ELAINE   THE   FAIR 

peace  and  happiness  and  have  come  to  thee.     Hast  thou  not  then  some 
word  of  kindness  for  me?" 

But  the  Queen  only  hardened  her  heart  and  would  not  answer. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out  in  great  despair:  "  Alas!  what  is  there  then 
left  for  me?  Lo!  I  have  cast  away  from  me  all  my  hope  of  peace  and 
now  even  thy  friendship  is  withdrawn  from  me.  Nothing  then  is  left  to 
me  and  my  life  is  dead." 

Then  Queen  Guinevere's  eyes  flashed  like  fire,  and  she  cried  out:  "Sir 
The  Queen  Knight,  you  speak  I  know  not  what.  Now  I  bid  you  tell  me 
is  angry.  ^{s — is  it  true  that  you  wore  as  a  favor  the  sleeve  of  the  Lady 

Elaine  the  Fair  at  the  tournament  of  Astolat?" 

Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Yes,  it  is  true." 

Then  the  Lady  Queen  Guinevere  laughed  with  flaming  cheeks  and  she 
said:  "  Well,  Sir  Knight  I  see  that  you  are  not  very  well  learned  in  knight- 
hood not  to  know  that  it  is  both  unknightly  and  dishonorable  for  a  knight 
to  sware  faith  to  one  lady  and  to  wear  the  favor  of  another.  Yet  what 
else  than  that  may  be  expected  of  one  who  knoweth  so  little  of  the  duties 
and  of  the  obligations  of  knighthood  that  he  will  ride  errant  in  a  hang- 
man's cart?" 

So  spake  Queen  Guinevere  in  haste  not  knowing  what  she  said,  her 
words  being  driven  onwards  by  her  passion  as  feathers  are  blown  by  a 
tempest  over  which  they  have  no  control.  But  when  she  had  spoken 
those  words  she  was  terrified  at  what  she  had  said  and  would  have  re- 
called them.  But  she  could  not  do  that,  for  who  can  recall  the  spoken 
word  after  it  is  uttered?  Wherefore,  after  she  had  spoken  those  words 
she  could  do  nothing  but  gaze  into  Sir  Launcelot 's  face  in  a  sort  of  terror. 
And  as  she  thus  gazed  she  beheld  that  his  face  became  red  and  redder 
until  it  became  all  empurpled  as  though  the  veins  of  his  head  would 
burst.  And  she  beheld  that  his  eyes  started  as  though  from  his  head  and 
that  they  became  shot  with  blood.  And  she  beheld  that  he  clutched  at 
his  throat  as  though  he  were  choking.  And  he  strove  to  speak  but  at 
first  he  could  not  and  then  he  cried  out  in  a  harsh  and  choking  voice, 
" Say  you  so!"  and  then  again  in  the  same  voice  he  cried,  "  Say  you  so!" 

Therewith  he  turned,  staggering  like  a  drunken  man.     And  there  was  a 
Sir  Launcelot     ta^  win^ow  open  behind  him,  and  straightway  he  leaped  out 
kapeth  from       of  that  window  into  the  courtyard  beneath,  where  he  fell  with 
a  loud  and  dreadful  crash. 

But  yet  it  was  as  though  he  had  not  fallen  for  he  immediately  leaped 
up  to  his  feet  and  ran  away  all  bruised  and  bloody  from  that  place  like 
one  gone  wode. 


THE   QUEST  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT  l6; 

Then  Queen  Guinevere  shrieked  aloud  with  a  great  passion  of  terror  and 
remorse.  And  she  cried  out  she  knew  not  what  and  smote  her  hands  very 
violently  together.  Thereat  several  came  running  to  her  and  to  them  she 
cried  out  in  a  voice  of  vehement  passion:  "Go  you,  run  with  might  and 
main  and  fetch  Sir  Launcelot  hither  to  me  again!" 

So  those  ran  with  all  despatch  but  they  could  not  find  Sir  Launcelot. 
For  immediately  after  leaving  the  Queen  as  aforesaid,  he  had  leaped  upon 
his  horse  and  had  thundered  away  with  all  speed,  and  no  one  knew  whither 
he  had  betaken  himself. 

Now  the  word  of  all  this  was  talked  about  the  court  of  the  King  almost 
as  soon  as  it  had  happened,  for  all  the  court  was  loud  with  the  noise  of  it. 
Thereat,  when  the  kinsmen  of  Sir  Launcelot  had  heard  what  had  passed, 
they  were  filled  with  great  indignation  at  the  manner  in  which  Sir  Bors  is 
he  had  been  treated;  and  most  of  all  Sir  Bors  was  indignant,  ind^snant- 
for  he  said  to  himself:  "  Lo!  this  Lady  first  sends  me  to  seek  my  kinsman 
and  to  bring  him  to  her  and  when  he  cometh  at  her  bidding  then  she  treats 
him  with  contumely  altogether  unworthy  for  a  knight  to  endure.     What 
then  must  Sir  Launcelot  think  of  me  who  was  her  foolish  messenger  to 
fetch  him  hither?" 

But  Queen  Guinevere,  not  knowing  of  the  indignation  of  the  kinsmen 
of  Sir  Launcelot,  sent  for  three  of  them  to  come  to  her,  and  these  three 
were  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Lionel  and  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis.  When  these  three 
had  come  to  her  they  found  her  weeping  and  when  they  stood  before  her 
she  said,  "Messires,  I  have  done  amiss."  To  this  they  said  nothing  lest 
from  anger  they  should  say  too  much.  Yet  the  Queen  be-  ^  cuine- 
held  their  anger,  wherefore  she  dried  her  tears  and  spake  vere  bespeaketh 
with  pride,  saying:  "Messires,  I  ask  you  not  to  forgive  me  £%£*£ 
who  am  your  Queen,  but  I  would  fain  ask  Sir  Launcelot  to 
forgive  me  and  I  know  that  out  of  his  gentleness  he  will  do  so.  Now  as 
your  Queen  and  sovereign  I  lay  this  command  upon  you,  that  you  straight- 
way go  in  quest  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  that  you  find  him  and  that  you  bring 
him  hither  to  me  so  that  I  may  beseech  his  forgiveness  for  all  that  I  have 
said  amiss  to  him." 

So  spake  Queen  Guinevere,  and  those  knights  who  were  there,  though 
they  were  very  angry  with  her  yet  they  could  not  but  obey  the  commanc 
which  she  laid  upon  them. 

So  began  the  Quest  of  Sir  Launcelot  concerning  which  a  very  great  deal 
hath  been  both  written  and  said.     For  upon  that  quest  there 
went  forth  those  three  knights  as  aforesaid,  to  wit;  Sir  Ector, 


168     THE  STORY  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND  ELAINE  THE  FAIR 

Sir  Lionel,  and  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  and  after  that  there  went  forth  Sir 
Gawaine  and  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Sagramore  the  Desirous  and  Sir  Agra- 
vaine  and  Sir  Percival  of  Gales. 

All  these  undertook  the  Quest  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  in  that  quest  several 
adventures  happened  to  them.  Yet  of  all  those  adventures  little  of  any- 
thing shall  here  be  said  saving  only  that  which  shall  concern  those  adven- 
tures that  befell  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Gawaine;  of  which 
more  anon. 

And  now  there  followeth  the  story  of  the  Madness  of  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
of  how  he  returned  in  a  very  strange  manner  to  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair- 
and  of  how  she  was  made  happy  by  that  return. 


PART  IV 
The  Madness  of  Sir  Launcelot 


TJTERE  follows  the  story  of  how  Sir  Launcelot  went  mad  from  grief  and 
of  how  he  roamed  the  woods  as  a  wild  man  of  the  woods.     Also 
many  other  adventures  that  befell  him  are  herein  told,  wherefore  I  hope  that 
you  may  have  pleasure  in  reading  that  which  is  here  written  for  your  enter- 
tainment. 


IjeMabman  of  fh*  Forest 
toljo  was  Sir  Launceiot : 


Chapter  First 


How  Sir  Launcelot  became  a   madman   of  the  forest  and  how  he 
was  brought  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Blyant. 

NOW  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  quitted  the  presence  of  Queen  Guine- 
vere as  aforetold,  and  having  leaped  to  horse  as  aforetold,  he 
rode  very  furiously  away,  he  wist  not  whither  and  cared  not. 
And  he  raced  like  a  whirlwind,  striving,  as  it  were,  to  escape  from  himself 
and  his  own  despair.     Thus  he  drove  onward  until  he  reached   Sir  Launcdoi 
the  shades  of  the  forest,  and  he  rode  through  the  forest,  rend-   driveth  through 
ing  the  branches  with  his  body,  until  his  horse  was  all  a  lather 
of  sweat.     So  he  pursued  his  way  till  night  descended  upon  him,  and  still 
he  drove  ever  forward,  he  knew  not  whitherward.     And  he  travelled  in 
that  wise  all  that  night  until  about  the  dawning  of  the  day,  what  time  he 
came  to  that  part  of  the  woodland  where  was  the  hut  of  the  hermit  of  the 
forest,  and  there  he  beheld  the  chapel  and  the  cell  of  the  hermit.     Here 
Sir  Launcelot  leaped  down  from  his  horse,  and  he  burst  very  violently 
into  the  dwelling-place  of  that  good  man  so  that  the  hermit    s^aunceiot 
was  amazed  at  his  coming.     And  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out  in 
a  loud  and  violent  voice,  "God  save  you!"  and  therewith  he  fell  forwar. 
and  lay  with  his  face  upon  the  floor. 


1 72  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Then  the  hermit  ran  to  him  and  he  lifted  up  his  head  and  looked  in  his 
face  and  he  beheld  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  in  a  fit. 

So  the  hermit  eased  Sir  Launcelot  of  his  armor  and  he  loosed  the  jerkin 
and  the  shirt  at  his  throat  so  that  his  throat  was  bare.  And  he  lifted  Sir 
Launcelot  and  brought  him  to  his  own  cot  and  he  laid  him  down  thereon 
and  there  Sir  Launcelot  lay  for  the  entire  day. 

But  toward  the  sloping  of  the  afternoon  the  sick  man  opened  his  eyes 
and  he  aroused  and  sat  up  and  gazed  about  him,  and  he  said,  "Where 
am  I?"  The  hermit  said,  "Thou  art  with  me,"  and  he  further  said, 
"What  aileth  thee,  Sir  Launcelot?" 

But  to  this  Sir  Launcelot  answered  naught  but  ever  looked  about  him  as 
though  not  knowing  who  he  was  or  where  he  was ;  for  he  was  like  to  one  who 
is  bedazed  by  a  heavy  blow  he  hath  received.  Then  by  and  by  Sir  Launce- 
lot said,  "I  know  not  what  it  is  that  hath  happened."  Thus  he  spake 
because  his  brains  were  bewildered  by  the  passion  through  which  he  had 
passed,  for  even  at  that  time  the  madness  which  afterward  gat  hold  of 
him  had  begun  to  ferment  in  his  brains  so  that  he  wist  not  very  well  what 
he  said  or  did. 

Then  the  hermit  knew  that  some  great  trouble  had  befallen  Sir  Launcejot, 
and  he  thought  that  maybe  if  Sir  Launcelot  would  eat  he  would  perhaps 
be  refreshed  and  might  maybe  recover  his  mind  once  more.  So  the  good 
man  said,  "Messire,  will  you  not  eat?"  and  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Yea,  give 
me  to  eat." 

So  the  hermit  brought  bread  and  milk  and  honey  and  fruit  and  he  set 

The  hermit        those  things  before  Sir  Launcelot.     And  Sir  Launcelot  fell 

cherisheth  sir     upon  those  things  and  ate  of  them  very  fiercely  and  voraciously, 

devouring  them  more  like  a  savage  than  a  worshipful  and 

worthy  knight. 

Then  after  Sir  Launcelot  had  thus  eaten  he  said,  "I  am  aweary,"  and 
therewith  he  arose  and  ungirded  his  armor,  and  laid  it  aside,  piece  by 
piece,  even  to  the  very  last  piece  thereof.  Then  when  he  was  thus  eased 
of  his  armor,  he  flung  himself  down  in  his  jerkin  and  hose  upon  the  hermit's 
pallet  and  therewith  in  a  moment  had  fallen  into  a  slumber  so  deep  that 
it  was  like  the  sleep  of  death.  And  as  he  slept  thus  the  hermit  sat 
beside  the  pallet  whereon  Sir  Launcelot  lay.  And  he  gazed  very  stead- 
fastly upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and  was  greatly  grieved  to  see  him  in  that 
condition. 

Now  it  happened  that  about  the  middle  of  the  night  the  hermit  fell 
asleep  where  he  sat  and  shortly  after  that  Sir  Launcelot  awoke  and  was 
aware  how  the  old  man  slept.  And  Sir  Launcelot  took  of  a  sudden  a  great 


SIR   LAUNCELOT  ESCAPETH  INTO   THE  FOREST 

fear  of  the  hermit  he  wist  not  wherefore,  so  that  the  only  thought  in  his 
mind  was  to  escape  from  the  hermit.  Wherefore  he  arose  and  went  very 
softly  and  in  his  bare  feet  out  from  that  place,  doing  this  so  silently  that 
he  did  not  awaken  the  hermit  from  his  sleep. 

Thus  Sir  Launcelot  came  outside  the  hermit's  hut,  and  after  he  had 
thus  escaped  therefrom,  he  took  of  a  sudden  great  fear  lest 
the  hermit  should  awake  and  pursue  him  for  to  bring  him  back 
to  the  hut  again.  So  straightway  he  turned  him  and  sped  the 
away  into  the  forest  with  great  speed,  like  as  though  he  were  a  wild  animal 
pursued  by  the  hunter.  And  he  fled  away  for  all  the  rest  of  that  night. 
And  when  the  dawn  had  come  he  ceased  to  fly  and  he  crouched  down  and 
hid  himself  in  the  thickets  of  the  forest.  For  in  his  madness  he  was  ever 
pursued  by  the  fear  that  the  hermit  would  follow  him  and  that  he  was  even 
then  hunting  for  him  for  to  bring  him  back  to  the  hut  again. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  escaped  from  the  hut  of  the  hermit,  and 
after  that  he  abided  in  the  forest  for  a  long  while.  What  time-  he  gathered 
the  wild  fruit  of  the  forest  for  his  food.  And  he  drank  of  the  forest  fountains 
and  that  was  all  the  food  and  drink  that  he  had.  And  after  a  while  the 
clothes  of  Sir  Launcelot  were  all  torn  into  shreds  by  the  thorns  and  briars, 
and  his  hair  grew  down  into  his  eyes  and  his  beard  grew  down  upon  his 
breast  so  that  he  became  in  all  appearance  a  wild  man  of  the  forest,  all 
naked,  and  shaggy,  and  gaunt  like  to  a  hungry  wolf. 

And  "now  and   again  it  chanced  that  some  one  who  travelled  in  the 
forest  would  see  him  as  he  ran  through  the  thickets  of  the    sir  Launcelot 
woodland  like  to  a  wild  creature,  and  hence  it  was  that  much    le^i^ian 
talk  of  that  wild  man  of  the  forest  went  about  the  country- 
side, and  folk  were  afraid  of  all  that  part  of  the  woodlands  because  of  him. 

Now  one  pleasant  morning  in  the  autumn  season  when  the  early  frosts 
were  come,  and  when  all  the  trees  had  taken  on  their  clothing  of  crimson 
and  russet  and  gold,  Sir  Launcelot,  in  his  mad  wanderings,  came  to  the 
edge  of  the  woodland  and  there  before  him  he  beheld  a  little  open  plain  all 
yellow  and  bright  in  the  broad  beams  of  the  shining  sunlight.  And  Sir 
Launcelot  beheld  that  in  the  midst  of  that  small  plain  was  a  fair  pavilion 
of  blue  silk.  And  he  beheld  that  near  by  the  pavilion  there  were  thre 
horses  tethered  browsing  upon  the  autumn  grass.  And  he  beheld  that  a 
bright  shield  hung  to  a  tree  that  grew  near  the  pavilion,  and  that  a  fair 
sword  hung  nigh  the  shield,  and  that  a  spear  leaned  against  the 
the  shield  and  sword.  .r 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  pleased  with  the  bright  color  of  the  pavilion 
and  something  of  knighthood  awoke  within  him  at  the  sight  of  the 


i74  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

and  the  sword  and  the  spear,  wherefore  he  desired  to  handle  the  sword 
and  the  spear  and  to  touch  the  shield. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  went  forward  into  that  plain  and  he  came  to  the  tree  where 
were  the  sword  and  the  shield  and  the  spear.  And  he  took  the  pommel  of 
the  sword  into  his  hand.  Thereupon  a  great  desire  for  battle  came  upon  him, 
and  he  straightway  catched  the  pommel  of  the  sword  in  both  his  hands  and 
he  drew  the  blade  forth  from  the  sheath.  And  he  whirled  the 
sword  about  his  head  and  he  smote  the  shield ;  and  he  smote  it 
the  shield  of  again  and  again,  striking  great  dents  into  it  with  the  blade  of 
the  sword ;  and  the  sound  of  those  blows  made  such  a  din  and 
uproar  that  it  was  as  though  ten  men  were  righting  in  that  place. 

Therewith,  at  all  that  sudden  din  and  uproar,  there  came  running  out 
of  that  pavilion  a  misshapen  dwarf  very  broad  of  shoulder  and  strong  of 
limb.  And  when  that  dwarf  beheld  a  madman  smiting  the  shield  in  that 
wise,  he  ran  at  him  with  intent  to  take  the  sword  away  from  him. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  the  dwarf  coming  in  that  wise,  and  straight- 
way he  dropped  the  sword  which  he  held,  and  he  catched  the  dwarf  by 
the  shoulders  and  he  flung  him  so  violently  down  upon  the  earth  that  the 
neck  of  the  dwarf  was  wellnigh  broken  by  that  fall. 

Then  the  dwarf  was  overwhelmed  with  the  terror  of  Sir  Launcelot, 
wherefore  he  did  not  dare  to  arise  from  the  ground  whereon  he  had  fallen, 
but  lay  there  calling  out  for  help  in  a  loud  voice  of  outcry. 

Thereupon,  there  immediately  came  forth  from  out  of  the  pavilion 
a  noble  knight  clad  all  in  scarlet  and  wrapped  in  a  scarlet  cloak 
trimmed  with  miniver.  And  that  knight  was  Sir  Blyant  whose  castle 
stood  not  more  than  four  or  five  leagues  from  that  place.  For  at  such 
pleasant  season  of  the  year,  Sir  Blyant  was  wont  to  ride  forth  with  his 
lady,  and  ever  when  he  chose  he  would  have  a  pavilion  set  up  in  some 
such  pleasant  place  as  this  little  glade.  And  sometimes  Sir  Blyant  and  his 
lady  would  lodge  in  that  pavilion  overnight,  as  was  the  case  at  this  time. 

So  Sir  Blyant  came  forth  out  of  the  pavilion  as  aforesaid,  and  he  beheld 
the  dwarf  lying  upon  the  ground.  And  he  beheld  that  Sir  Launcelot  had 
catched  up  the  sword  again,  and  that  he  stood  above  the  dwarf,  making 
play  with  his  sword  as  though  there  were  many  enemies  thereabouts ;  and 
Sir  Blyant  wist  that  he  whom  he  beheld  must  be  the  Madman  of  the  For- 
Sir  Blyant  est  of  wnom  ^lk  talked  so  much.  Then  Sir  Blyant  pitied  that 
pitieth  the  madman  a  very  great  deal,  and  he  spake  very  mildly  to  him, 
saying :  "  Good  man,  put  down  that  sword,  for  meseems  thou 
art  in  greater  need  of  food  and  of  warm  clothes  and  of  nourishing  and 
comforting  than  of  playing  with  a  sharp  sword  in  that  wise." 

' 


SIR   LAUNCELOT   ASSAULTETH  SIR  ELY  ANT  I?5 

But  ever  Sir  Launcelot  waved  the  sword  this  way  and  that,  crying  out 
in  a  great  loud  voice,  "  Keep  thou  away  or  I  will  slay  thee." 

Then  Sir  Blyant  perceived  that  there  was  great  danger  in  having  to  do 
unarmed  with  that  madman,  wherefore  he  called  upon  his  dwarf  to  arise 
and  come  to  him,  and  therewith  he  withdrew  into  the  pavilion  with  in- 
tent to  arm  himself  and  so  to  take  away  that  sword  from  Sir  Launcelot 
by  force. 

So  the  dwarf,  who  by  that  time  had  arisen  from  where  he  lay,  went 
into  the  pavilion  to  where  Sir  Blyant  was,  and  he  aided  Sir  Blyant  to  don 
his  armor,  and  so  Sir  Blyant  armed  himself  from  head  to  foot.  When  he 
was  thus  armed  he  took  sword  in  hand  and  went  forth  from  out  of  the 
pavilion  prepared  to  deal  with  the  madman  in  such  wise  as  sir  Blyant 
was  necessary  to  take  that  dangerous  sword  from  him.  For  armeth  him*i}- 
even  if  it  must  be  that  he  had  to  slay  that  madman,  Sir  Blyant  wist  that 
he  must  not  leave  him  thus  with  a  sharp  sword  in  his  hand.  So  Sir  Bly- 
ant came  out  of  the  pavilion  armed  at  all  points. 

But  when  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  him  coming  forth  thus  armed  as  for 
battle,  the  love  of  battle  awoke  to  full  life  in  his  heart,  wherefore  he  shouted 
aloud.  And  he  rushed  at  Sir  Blyant  and  he  struck  Sir  Blyant  upon  the 
helm  so  fierce  and  terrible  a  buffet  that  nor  guard  nor  armor  could  with- 
stand that  stroke.  And  had  the  sword  not  turned  a  little  in  the  hands  of 
Sir  Launcelot  that  had  been  Sir  Blyant's  last  day  upon  earth. 

Natheless,  the  sword,  though  turned,  fell  with  full  force  upon  the  crest 
of  Sir  Blyant,  and  at  that  dreadful,  terrible  stroke  the  brains  of  Sir  Blyant 
flashed  fire  into  his  eyeballs.     Then  blackness  came  roaring  Thenujdman 
upon  him  and  therewith  he  fell  down  in  a  deathly  swoon,  the  ov.ert^ro^h 
blood  running  out  from  his  nose  and  ears  from  the  force  of 
that  woeful  stroke  he  had  suffered. 

So  when  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  Sir  Blyant  fall  thus  beneath  the  blow,  he 
shouted  aloud  for  joy.  And  straightway  with  the  naked  sword  in  his 
hand  he  ran  into  the  pavilion  with  intent  to  find  what  other  enemies  there 
might  be  in  that  place. 

Now  the  lady  of  Sir  Blyant  was  alone  in  that  pavilion,  so  when  she  be- 
held that  half -naked  madman  rush  therein  with  the  shining  sword  in  his 
hand,  and  a  terrible  fierce  look  of  madness  upon  his  face,  she  shrieked 
with  terror  and  straightway  ran  forth  from  the  tent  upon  the  other  side 
thereof. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  stood  and- gazed  all  about  him,  waving  his  sword  fror 
side  to  side,  but  could  behold  no  enemies  such  as  he  might  assault.     And 
then  he  saw  where  there  was  a  fine  soft  couch  spread  with  a  covering  of 


if6  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

flame-colored  linen  in  that  place,  and  therewith  he  ran  to  that  bed  and 
leaped  into  it  and  straightway  covered  himself  all  over  with  the  coverlet. 

When  the  lady  of  Sir  Blyant  ran  in  that  wise  out  of  the  pavilion  as 
aforesaid,  she  beheld  where  her  lord,  Sir  Blyant,  lay  stretched  out  upon 
the  ground,  and  she  beheld  the  dwarf  bending  over  him,  removing  the  helm 
from  his  head.  And  beholding  that  sight  she  shrieked  more  than  ever 
and  ran  frantically  to  where  that  stricken  knight  lay.  Therewith,  behold- 
The  Lady  ing  his  face  all  white  as  milk  and  streaked  with  blood,  she 
is  adred.  thought  that  he  had  certes  been  killed  by  that  madman, 

whereupon  she  flung  herself  down  upon  his  body,  crying  aloud  in  a  most 
piercing  voice,  "My  lord!  My  lord!  Assuredly  thou  art  dead!" 

"Not  so,  lady,"  said  the  dwarf,  "he  is  not  dead,  but  aswoon."  And 
even  as  the  dwarf  spoke,  Sir  Blyant  sighed  very  deeply  and  opened  his 
eyes.  And  he  said:  "  Where  is  that  madman  who  struck  me  anon?  Never 
in  all  my  life  felt  I  such  a  buffet  as  that  which  he  gave  me."  The  dwarf 
said,  "  Lord,  that  madman  ran  but  now  into  the  pavilion  and  drove  your 
lady  out  thence."  "Go,  sirrah,"  said  Sir  Blyant,  "and  see  what  he  is  at 
in  the  pavilion." 

So  the  dwarf  went  very  fearfully  to  the  door  of  the  pavilion  and  peeped 
within,  and  he  beheld  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay  sleeping  upon  the  couch. 
Thereupon  the  dwarf  returned  to  Sir  Blyant  and  he  said:  "  Sir,  that  mad- 
man hath  taken  to  your  bed,  and  he  lyeth  there  now  very  soundly  asleep 
as  he  were  in  a  swoon."  And  then  the  dwarf  said:  "  Give  me  leave  to  take 
this  sword  and  go  thither  and  I  will  slay  him  where  he  lieth.  For  only 
so  may  we  hope  to  save  ourselves  from  the  madness  of  his  phrenzy  when 
he  shall  awake." 

But  Sir  Blyant  pitied  the  madman  and  he  said;  " Let  be  and  harm  him 
not,  for  I  misdoubt  this  madman  is  not  what  he  seemeth  to  be."  And  he 
said,  "Help  me  to  arise,  for  my  head  swimmeth."  So  the  lady  and  the 
dwarf  helped  Sir  Blyant  to  his  feet  and  in  a  little  while  he  was  able  to  stand 
and  to  walk.  And  anon  Sir  Blyant  went  into  the  pavilion,  and  he  went 
to  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay  and  he  stood  and  looked  down  upon  him.  And 
he  beheld  that  Sir  Launcelot  wore  a  rich  ring  upon  his  finger  (and  that  was 
the  ring  of  magic  which  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  had  given  him)  and  he  be- 
held that  Sir  Launcelot's  body  was  covered  with  many  scars  of  wounds 
Sir  Blyant  suc^  as  a  knight  might  receive  in  battle.  So  seeing  these 
I°h^e^adp0n  t*1*n£s'  Sir  Blyant  said:  "This  is  no  common  madman,  but 
some  great  champion  who  has  fallen  into  misfortune,  for  I 
behold  that  he  weareth  a  ring  such  as  only  a  knight  of  great  credit  might 
wear,  and  I  behold  that  he  beareth  many  honorable  scars  of  battle." 


SIR  LAUNCELOT   BECOMETH   THE  CASTLE  MADMAN        177 

And  Sir  Blyant  said  to  the  dwarf:  "Take  thou  thy  horse  and  ride  with 
all  speed  to  my  castle.  When  thou  art  come  there,  bid  my  brother  Sir 
Selivant  to  make  haste  hither  with  several  men.  And  bid  him  to  fetch  a 
horse  litter  with  him  so  that  we  may  be  able  to  bring  this  mad  knight  to 
where  he  may  have  succor  and  where  he  may  haply  be  cured  of  his  infirm- 
ities. " 

So  the  dwarf  did  as  Sir  Blyant  commanded  him  ;  he  took  horse  and  rode 
with  all  speed  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Blyant,  and  there  he  gave  Sir  Blyant's 
word  to  Sir  Selivant.  And  straightway  Sir  Selivant  came  to  that  place 
with  those  men  and  a  horse  litter  for-  to  bring  Sir  Launcelot  away;  and  he 
reached  that  place  within  three  hours  after  the  messenger  had  been  sent 
to  him. 

So  Sir  Selivant  and  Sir  Blyant  and  those  men  lifted  Sir  Launcelot  as  he 
lay  in  his  bed,  and  they  laid  him  on  the  litter  and  Sir  Launce     They  bear 
lot  did  not  awake.     And  they  took  him  away  from  that   the  madman 
place  and  still  he  did  not  awake  ;  for  all  that  while  he  lay  in  a 
deep  slumber  that  was  like  to  a  swoon.    Thus  they  brought  him  to  the 
castle  of  Sir   Blyant  without  his   ever  arousing  from  that    swoonlike 

sleep. 

After  that  they  fetched  the  barber  of  the  castle  and  the  barber  trimmed 
the  hair  and  the  beard  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  they  put  fresh  decent  clothes 
upon  him,  and  all  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  did  not  awake  but  lay  ever  i 
that  swoonlike  sleep. 

Now  when  they  of  that  castle  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  as  he  lay  after  1 
had  been  thus  clothed  and  clipped;  and  when  they  beheld  how  noble 
and  comely  was  his  appearance,  they  said,  "Certes,  this  is  indeed  some 
noble  and  haughty  champion  of  high  estate,  though  who  he  may  t 


all  took  great  pity  for  Sir  Launcelot,  but  yet  they  fear^his 
phrenzy  when  he  should  awake.  So  they  sent  for  the  smith  ofihe  cartte 
and  the  smith  fastened  light  strong  ^*^f*Z^ 
Launcelot  and  to  his  ankles  ;  so  that  he  might  do  no  harm  to  any  o 

So  when  Sir  Launcelot  awoke  he  was  a  prisoner  in  chains  in  t 
of  Sir  Blyant.     And  Sir  Launcelot  remained  Celling  in  the 
castle  of  Sir  Blyant  for  a  year  and  a  half  and  ever  he  remained  * 
bound  with  those  light  strong  chains  of  steel    For  stiB  * 


1 7«  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Sir  Launcelot  loved  Sir  Blyant  as  some  dumb  creature  loveth  its  master, 
and  he  would  follow  Sir  Blyant  about  whithersoever  he  went. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  went  mad  and  thus  he  came  to  be  chained 
in  the  castle  of  Sir  Blyant. 

And  now  remaineth  other  adventures  to  be  told  that  befell  at  this  time. 


Ije Forest  Madm 
ifa  of  King  A  r  fljur : 


Chapter  Second 


How  Sir  Launcelot  saved  the  life  of  Sir  Blyant.  How  he  escaped 
from  the  castle  of  Sir  Blyant,  and  how  he  slew  the  great  wild 
boar  of  Lystenesse  and  saved  the  life  of  King  Arthur,  his  liege 
lord. 

NOW  it  happened  upon  a  day  that  Sir  Blyant  rode  in  a  little 
wood  nigh  to  his  castle,  and  whilst  he  was  thus  alone  sir  Bl  anf 
he  beheld  two  knights  riding  side  by  side  all  in  the   rideth  in  the 
clear  bright   springtime.      As  these  drew  nigh   to  him   Sir   woodland' 
Blyant  was  aware  from  the  devices  upon  their  shields  that   one  of  them 
was  Sir  Breuce  sans  Pitie  and  than  the  other  was  Sir  Bertolet  his  brother, 
which  same,  you  are  to  know,  were  Sir  Blyant's  bitter  enemies.   For  in  the 
tournament  at  Astolat   Sir    Blyant  had  very  grievously  hurt  a  young 
knight  who  was  their  brother,  and  afterward  that  knight  (whose  name 
was  Sir  Gelotius)  had  died  of  those  hurts. 

Yet  though  Sir  Blyant  wist  that  this  meeting  boded  ill  for  him  yet 
would  he  not  withdraw  therefrom  but  went  forward.  So  it  came  about 
that  when  he  was  pretty  close  to  those  two  knights,  the  foremost  of  them 
(who  was  Sir  Breuce  sans  Pitie)  rode  forth  and  bespoke  him,  saying,  "  Sir 
Knight,  who  are  you  and  whither  go  you?"  Sir  Blyant  said:  "Messires, 
I  am  a  knight  of  these  marches,  riding  errant  in  search  of  adventure." 
Sir  Breuce  said,  "Art  thou  not  Sir  Blyant  of  the  White  Castle?"  Sir 
Blyant  said,  "Thou  sayest  it  and  I  am  he." 

Then  Sir  Breuce  sans  Pitie  spoke  very  savagely,  saying:  "Sir  Knight, 
this  is  well  that  we  meet  you  here  who  are  the  slayer  of  our  brother  Sir 
Gelotius  at  the  tournament  of  Astolat."  To  this  Sir  Blyant  said:  "  Messires, 
what  do  you  have  against  me  for  that?  Certes,  it  is  that  I  overthrew  £ 
Gelotius  and  that  he  died  thereafter,  yet  it  was  by  chance  of  battle  that 
this  happened  and  with  no  evil  intent  of  mine.  Moreover,  your  brother, 
Sir  Gelotius,  took  his  chances  of  battle  as  did  all  those  who  entered  that 
tournament." 


l82  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

"Say  no  more!  "  said  Sir  Breuce.  "  Say  no  more!  but  prepare  you  straight 
for  battle  with  us  who  have  every  day  sought  you  from  that  time  till  now, 
and  so  have  found  you  here  to  our  hand." 

" Messires,"  cried  Sir  Blyant,  "would  you  fall  upon  me  thus,  two  against 
one?"  They  say,  "Aye,"  and  thereupon  they  drew  sword  and  prepared 
themselves  for  battle. 

Then  Sir  Blyant  perceiving  how  it  was,  and  that  there  was  no  other  way 

for  him  to  do  than  to  fight  this  battle  against  odds,  straight- 

aZaiieydin  W      way  drew  his  sword  and  put  himself  into  posture  of  defence. 

the  woodland,     ^hen  in  a  moment  they  three  came  to  battle  together  in  the 

woods,  two  of  them  against  the  one. 

Yet,  for  a  while,  although  he  stood  one  to  two,  Sir  Blyant  defended 
himself  with  great  courage  and  address,  striking  now  upon  this  side 
and  now  upon  that,  anon  wheeling  his  horse  away  from  a  stroke, 
anon  lashing  a  stroke  at  his  enemies.  And  so  great  was  the  defence 
he  made  that  it  was  a  long  time  ere  that  those  two  knights  had  their 
will  of  him. 

But  one  knight  could  not  hope  to  fight  thus  a  continued  battle  against 
two  who  were  his  equals,  wherefore  it  befell  that  in  a  little  while  Sir  Blyant 
was  wounded  here  and  there,  and  in  another  place;  and  then,  in  a  little 
while  longer  it  came  about  that,  what  with  weariness  and  what  from  the 
loss  of  blood,  he  was  aware  that  he  must  die  in  that  battle  alone  in  the 
woodlands  unless  he  saved  himself  from  his  enemies. 

Therewith  a  great  despair  fell  upon  him  and  with  that  he  put  his  horse 
straight  at  Sir  Breuce  as  though  to  strike  him  a  buffet.  Then  as  Sir  Breuce 
Sir  Blyant  drew  aside  to  avoid  that  stroke,  Sir  Blyant  drave  his  horse 
flecth.  very  fiercely  against  Sir  Breuce's  horse,  so  that  Sir  Breuce's 

horse  wellnigh  fell  to  the  ground  with  his  rider  upon  his  back.  Therewith 
Sir  Blyant  thrust  past  his  enemy  and  quickly  fled  away  toward  his  castle 
with  all  the  speed  that  he  could  drive  his  horse  to  make. 

Now  at  first  those  two  knights  were  astonished  at  the  sudden  escape 
of  their  enemy.  But  immediately  they  awoke  to  his  going  and  so  set  spurs 
to  horse  upon  their  part  and  chased  after  Sir  Blyant;  and  if  he  sped  fast, 
they  sped  as  fast  after  him.  And  ever  and  anon  they  lashed  furiously  at 
him,  yet  because  of  his  speed  they  could  do  him  no  great  harm. 

So  Sir  Blyant  raced  for  his  castle  and  he  rushed  forward  beneath  the 
walls  of  the  castle  with  those  two  knights  thundering  after  him  amain. 
And  because  they  were  so  close  upon  him,  Sir  Blyant  could  not  draw  rein 
to  turn  his  steed  into  the  drawbridge  of  the  castle,  but  must  needs  rush 
past  the  drawbridge,  calling  for  aid  to  those  who  were  within  the  walls. 


SIR   LAUNCELOT  BREAKETH  HIS  CHAINS  Z83 

Now  at  that  time  Sir  Launcelot  lay  (chained  as  was  af oretold)  in  a  certain 
window  of  the  castle  where  the  sun  shone  down  strong  and  warm  upon 
him,  and  Sir  Launcelot  slumbered  there  in  the  sunlight.    And  as  Sir 
Launcelot  so  slumbered  he  was  aroused  by  the  sound  of  galloping  horses 
and  a  loud  noise  of  shouting  and  the  din  of  lashing  of  blows.     So,  looking 
forth  from  that  window,  he  beheld  the  three  knights  as  they  came  thunder- 
ing past  the  walls  of  the  castle.     And  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  the  one 
knight  who  was  pursued  by  the  two  knights  was  his  master, 
Sir  Blyant;  and  he  beheld  that  Sir  Blyant  was  much  put  to   SjjJ3f3£ 
it  to  save  his  life;  for  he  was  all  covered  over  with  blood  and,    Blyant' s 
whilst  anon  he  would  wheel  his  horse  and  strike  right  and   tlanger' 
left,  yet  anon  he  would  wheel  again  and  flee  for  his  life;  and  Sir  Launcelot 
beheld  that  Sir  Blyant  reeled  in  his  saddle  under  every  blow  that  his  enemies 
lashed  at  him.     Meanwhile,  in  the  castle  was  a  great  shouting  and  calling 
to  arms,  wherefore  it  came  to  Sir  Launcelot  to  know  that  Sir  Blyant  was 
being  slain. 

Then  a  great  rage  of  battle  awoke  in  Sir  Launcelot's  heart  against  those 
who  pressed  his  beloved  master,  Sir  Blyant,  in  that  wise,  wherefore  he 
would  have  hastened  to  the  aid  of  Sir  Blyant,  but  could  not  because  of  the 
chains  that  bound  him.     Then,  in  his  madness,  and  being  driven  furious  at 
being  thus  bound,  Sir  Launcelot  catched  those  strong  steel  chains  in  his 
hands  and  wrestled  with  them.     And  the  chains  bit  deep  into  his  flesh  in 
his  wrestlings  so  that  he  was  sore  wounded  by  the  iron.     But  in  spite  of 
that  Sir  Launcelot  put  forth  his  entire  strength,  and  even   Themadman 
though  the  blood  flowed  from  his  arms  and  hands  yet  he  breaketh  his 
snapped    the   chains  that  bound  his  arms.     After  that  he 
catched  up  a  great  stone  in  his  hands  and  he  beat  upon  the  chains  that 
bound  his  legs  and  brake  those  also,  and  so  he  was  free  again. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  leaped  upon  the  window-ledge,  and  he  leaped  out 
of  the  window  of  the  castle  and  into  the  moat  below  and  he  swam  the 
moat  and  so  came  out  upon  the  other  side  thereof. 

Right  there  came  Sir  Blyant  striving  to  defend  himself  against  thos< 
who  followed  him,  and  at  that  time  he  was  very  nigh  falling  from  his  horse 
at  every  blow  he  received.     This  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  and  when  he  s 
how  those  two  knights  ever  smote  Sir  Blyant  and  how  that  Sir  tflyai 
reeled  in  his  saddle  beneath  those  blows,  he  roared  aloud  in  pity  and  1 

Therewith,  thus  roaring,  he  straightway  rushed  upon  Sir   Tke 
Bertolet,  who  was  nighest  to  him,  and  he  leaped  up  and  catched 
that  knight  about  the  body  and  dragged  him  down  upon  the 
pommel  of  his  saddle  with  great  force  of   strength,  and  bir  baun 


184  THE  MADNESS   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

catched  the  sword  of  Sir  Bertolet  and  he  wrestled  with  Sir  Bertolet  and 
so  plucked  the  sword  out  of  Sir  Bertolet 's  hand. 

Then  Sir  Bertolet  cried  out  to  Sir  Breuce:  "Help!  Help!  my  brother! 
For  this  madman  slayeth  me." 

Therewith  Sir  Breuce  turned  from  Sir  Blyant  for  to  succor  his  brother, 
and  upon  that  Sir  Launcelot  quitted  Sir  Bertolet  and  rushed  at  Sir  Breuce. 
And  Sir  Launcelot  gave  Sir  Breuce  such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm  with  the 
sword  of  Sir  Bertolet  that  he  smote  Sir  Breuce  with  that  one  blow  clean 
over  the  crupper  of  his  horse. 

Then  Sir  Bertolet  took  his  spear  in  hand  and  therewith  rushed  his  horse 
upon  Sir  Launcelot  with  intent  to  pierce  him  through  the  body.  But 
from  that  assault  Sir  Launcelot  leaped  nimbly  aside.  Thereupon  he 
rushed  in  and  catched  the  spear  of  Sir  Bertolet  in  his  hand;  and  he  ran 
up  the  length  of  the  spear,  and  reached  forward,  and  smote  Sir  Bertolet 
such  a  blow  that  he  cut  through  the  epaulier  of  the  shoulder  and  deep  into 
the  shoulder  to  the  very  bone  thereof,  so  that  the  arm  of  Sir  Bertolet  was 
half  cut  away  from  the  body  at  that  blow.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  would 
have  struck  again  only  that  Sir  Bertolet  let  go  his  spear  from  his  hand, 
shrieking  aloud,  and  wheeled  his  horse  to  escape. 

Now  by  that  time  Sir  Breuce  sans  Pitie  had  got  him  to  horse  again 
wherefore,  beholding  that  terrible  blow  and  beholding  how  his  brother 
Sir  Bertolet  fled  away  from  that  madman,  he  also  drove  spurs  to  flank 
and  fled  away  with  might  and  main. 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot,  unarmed,  save  for  the  sword  in  his  naked 
hand,  defeated  two  strong  and  doughty  knights  and  so  saved  his  master's 
life. 

But  by  now  the  castle  folk  had  come  running  to  where  were  Sir  Blyant 
and  him  whom  they  called  the  mad  fool  of  the  castle,  and  they  beheld 
Sir  Blyant  tliem  koth  panting  and  bleeding.  And  Sir  Blyant  looked 
cherisheth  the  upon  Sir  Launcelot  and  beheld  how  his  arms  and  hands  were 
torn  and  bleeding  from  breaking  those  chains,  and  he  said, 
"Poor  fool!  and  hast  thou  suffered  all  that  for  my  sake?"  And  at  that 
Sir  Launcelot  laughed  and  nodded.  Then  Sir  Blyant  said  to  the  folk  of 
the  castle:  "Never  let  those  chains  be  put  upon  his  body  again,  for  he  is 
gentle  and  kind,  and  meaneth  harm  to  no  one." 

So  they  did  not  chain  Sir  Launcelot  again,  but  suffered  him  to  go  free, 
and  after  that  he  wandered  whithersoever  he  willed  to  go,  and  no  one 
stayed  him  in  his  going  or  his  coming.  And  ever  he  was  kind  and  gentle 
to  all  so  that  no  one  in  all  that  place  had  any  fear  of  him  but  all  were 
pleased  and  merry  with  him. 


KING  ARTHUR   HUNTETH   THE  WILD  BOAR  l8$ 

Yet  ever  there  lay  within  the  heart  of  Sir  Launcelot  some  remembrance 
that  told  him  that  he  was  too  worthy  to  content  himself  with  being  a  mad 
fool  in  a  lord's  castle,  wherefore  it  was  always  in  his  will  to  escape  from 
the  castle  of  Sir  Blyant  if  he  was  able  to  do  so. 

So  now,  being  unchained,  it  happened  one  night  when  none  observed 
him,  that  he  dropped  privily  from  the  wall  of  the  castle  into 
the  moat  thereof,  and  swam  the  moat  to  the  other  side.    And  ^3^ 
after  he  had  thus  escaped  into  the  night  he  ran  on  without  thf castu  °f 
stopping  until  he  had  reached  the  forest,  and  there  he  roamed  S"  Blyan*' 
once  more  altogether  wild  as  he  had  been  aforetime.     For  the  remnant 
of  his  knighthood  said  to  him  that  it  would  be  better  for  him  to  die  alone 
there  in  the  woodlands  than  to  dwell  in  shame  in  a  lord's  castle. 

Now  at  that  time  there  was  a  great  wild  boar  in  those  parts  that  was 
the  terror  of  all  men,  and  this  boar  was  called  the  boar  of  Lystenesse — 
taking  its  name  from  that  part  of  the  forest  which  was  called  the  Forest 
of  Lystenesse. 

So  word  of  this  great  wild  boar,  and  news  of  its  ravages  came  to  the 
ears  of  King  Arthur,  whereupon  the  King  ordained  that   a  Kin  Arthur 
day  should  be  set  apart  for  a  hunt  in  which  the  beast  should  hunts  the  boar 
be  slain  and  the  countryside  set  free  from  the  ravages  thereof.  ^  Lys* 

Thus  it  befell  that  upon  a  time  Sir  Launcelot,  where  he  lived  in  his 
madness  alone  in  the  forest,  was  aware  of  the  baying  of  hounds  and  the 
shouting  of  voices  sounding  ever  nearer  and  nearer  to  where  he  was.     Anon 
the  baying  of  the  hounds  approached  him  very  near  indeed,  and  presently 
there  came  a  great  cracking  and  rending  of  the  bushes  and  the  small  trees. 
Thereupon  as  he  gazed,  there  burst  out  of  the  forest  that  great  savage 
wild  boar  of  Lystenesse.     And  lo!  the  jowl  of  that  boar  was  all  white  with 
the  foam  that  was  churned  by  his  tusks,  and  the  huge  tusks  The  madman 
of  the  boar  gleamed  white  in  the  midst  of  the  foam.    And  the  chas" 
bristles  of  that  great  beast  were  like  sharp  wires  of  steel,  and  they  too 
were  all  flecked  with  the  foam  that  had  fallen  from  the  jowl  of  the  beast. 
And  the  eyes  of  the  wild  boar  gleamed  like  to  two  coals  of  fire,  and 
roared  like  to  a  devil  as  it  fled,  rending,  through  the  forest.     And  ever 
the  hounds  pursued  the  boar,  hanging  upon  its  flanks  but  not  daring  to 
grapple  with  it  in  its  flight,  because  of  the  terror  that  surrounded  it. 

Then  when  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  that  sight  the  love  of  the  chase  i 
up  within  his  heart  and  thereupon  he  shouted  aloud  and  fell  to  runnii 
beside  the  dogs  after  the  boar,  tearing  his  way  through  the  briars  an 
thorns  and  thickets,  even  as  the  boar  and  the  hounds  burst  through  them. 


l86  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

And  so  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  dogs  chased  the  boar  for  a  great  while,  until 
at  last  the  beast  came  to  bay,  with  his  back  set  against  a  great  crag  of 
stone,  and  there  the  dogs  surrounded  it,  yelling  and  baying.  And  ever 
Sir  Launcelot  shouted  them  on  to  the  assault,  yet  not  one  of  the  hounds 
dared  to  grapple  with  the  wild  beast  because  of  the  terror  of  its  appearance. 

So  as  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  dogs  joined  in  assault  about  the  boar,  there 
came  the  sound  of  a  horseman  riding  with  speed  and  winding  his  horn. 
Then  in  a  moment  there  came  King  Arthur  himself,  bursting  out  of  the 
forest  alone;  for  he  had  outridden  all  his  court  and  was  the  first  of  all) 
upon  the  field. 

Then  King  Arthur,  beholding  the  boar  where  he  stood  at  bay,  set  his  lance 
in  rest  with  intent  to  charge  the  beast  and  to  pierce  him  through  the  body. 
But  the  boar,  all  fierce  and  mad  with  the  chase  it  had  suffered,  did  not  wait 
that  charge  of  the  King  but  himself  charged  the  horseman.  And  at  that 
charge  King  Arthur's  horse  was  affrighted,  with  the  terror  of  the  beast  and 
flung  suddenly  aside  so  that  the  lance  of  King  Arthur  failed  of  its  aim. 

Therewith  the  boar  ran  up  under  the  point  of  the  lance  and  he  catched 
The  boar  ^e  norse  °^  tne  King  w^^  ^s  tus^s  and  ripped  the  horse  so 

overthroweth  that  both  horse  and  rider  fell  to  the  ground;  King  Arthur 
King  Arthur.  keneath  ^he  WOunded  animal,  so  that  he  could  not  free  his 
leg  to  rise  from  his  fall. 

Then  it  would  have  been  ill  indeed  with  King  Arthur  but  for  that  forest 
madman.  For  beholding  the  fall  of  the  King,  Sir  Launcelot  ran  straight- 
way to  him.  And  he  seized  the  sword  of  the  King  and  plucked  it  forth 
from  its  sheath.  Therewith  he  leaped  at  the  boar  and  lashed  at  it  a  mighty 
buffet,  and  as  he  did  so  his  foot  slipped  in  the  blood  of  the  horse  which 
there  lay  upon  the  ground,  and  he  fell  flat  with  the  force  of  that  blow  which 
he  purposed  should  destroy  the  boar. 

Thereupon  the  boar,  finding  himself  thus  attacked  by  another,  turned 
upon  that  other  and  ere  Sir  Launcelot  could  arise  from  his  fall  it  was  upon 
him.  And  the  boar  ripped  Sir  Launcelot  with  its  tusks  through  the  flesh 
of  the  thigh,  even  to  the  hip  bone. 

Now,  when  Sir  Launcelot  felt  the  pang  of  that  dreadful  wound  which  the 
boar  gave  him  he  yelled  aloud.  At  the  same  time  his  soul  was  filled  with 
The  madman  a  great  passion  of  rage  and  madness  so  that,  ere  the  boar 
siayeth  the  could  charge  him  again,  he  leaped  to  his  feet  and  rushed  upon 
the  boar.  And  Sir  Launcelot  smote  the  boar  such  a  terrible 
dreadful  stroke  that  he  cut  through  the  bristles  of  the  neck  and  through 
the  spine  of  the  neck  and  half-way  through  the  neck  itself,  so  that  the 
head  of  the  boar  was  wellnigh  cut  away  from  its  body. 


SIR   LAUNCELOT  IS   WOUNDED  BY   THE  BOAR  l8 

Therewith  the  boar  fell  down  dead  and  Sir  Launcelot  starred  E 
stood  leaning  upon  the  sword,  groaning  amain  with  the  bitter  panes  of 
pain  that  racked  him. 

Right  so,  as  Sir  Launcelot  stood  thus,  the  other  huntsmen  of  the  King's 
party  ^  came  bursting  out  of  the  forest  with  the  sound  of  horses  and  of 
shouting  voices. 

Then  when  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  them  he  thought,  because  of  his  mad- 
ness and  the  raging  of  his  torments,  that  these  were  they  who  had  hurt 
him.  So  therewith  he  roared  like  to  a  wild  beast  and  he  ran  at  those  new- 
comers, whirling  the  sword  of  King  Arthur  like  lightning  around  his 
head. 

Then  several  of  those  set  their  lances  in  rest  with  intent  to  run  the  mad- 
man through  the  body  ere  he  could  do  a  harm  to  any  one,  but  King  Arthur 
cried  out:  "  Beware  what  you  do!  Do  him  no  harm,  for  he  hath  saved  my 
life."  So  those  who  would  else  have  charged  Sir  Launcelot  held  their 
hands  and  drew  away  in  retreat  before  him. 

But  already  Sir  Launcelot's  strength  was  failing  him,  for  his  brains  were 
even  then  swimming  with  faintness.  So  in  a  little  he  sank  down  in  a 
swoon  and  lay  all  of  a  heap  upon  the  ground. 

Then  the  King,  and  the  others  who  were  there  came  to  where  he  lay 
bleeding  and  swooning,  and  all  looked  down  upon  him,  and  because  he  was 
all  naked  and  unkempt  they  knew  him  not.  But  nevertheless,  they  be- 
held that  he  was  of  great  girth  and  that  he  was  covered  over  with  a  great 
many  scars  of  battle,  and  they  all  felt  deep  pity  for  him  as  he  lay  there. 
Then  King  Arthur  said:  "This  is  the  framework  of  a  mighty  champion. 
Pity  indeed  that  he  should  have  come  to  this  as  we  behold  him."  And  he 
said:  "Lift  him  up  tenderly  and  bear  him  hence  to  where  he  may  have 
comfort  and  nourishment." 

So  they  lifted  Sir  Launcelot  with  great  gentleness,  and  they  bare  him 
away  from  that  place,  and  they  brought  him  to  the  hut  of  that  hermit 
where  he  had  been  healed  aforetime  when  he  had  received  that  grievous 
wound  in  the  tournament  at  Astolat. 

So  the  hermit  received  Sir  Launcelot  and  wist  not  who  he  was.  For 
though  he  beheld  that  here  was  a  man  of  mighty  girth  and  stature,  yet 
was  the  great  champion  so  changed  by  his  madness  and  by  his  continuec 
fasting  in  the  forest  that  even  his  nearest  friends  might  not  know  him. 
Nevertheless,  though  the  hermit  knew  him  not,  yet  he  had  them  lay  that 
forest  madman  upon  a  cot  in  his  cell,  and  he  searched  that  wound  in  the 
madman's  thigh  and  bathed  it  with  tepid  water,  and  anointed  it  with  bait 


i88  THE  MADNESS   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

and  bound  it  up  with  bands  of  smooth  white  linen,  so  that  that  wound 
was  in  all  ways  well  searched  and  dressed. 

And  the  hermit  looked  upon  Sir  Launcelot  and  beheld  that  he  was  all 
gaunt  and  hollow  with  hunger  and  he  said:  "  If  this  poor  mad  creature  is 

The  madman  not  ^e(^'  ^e  ™^  ^e  *n  a  ^tt^e  wn^e-"  S°  when  Sir  Launcelot 
lyeth  in  the  had  revived  him  from  that  swoon,  the  good  old  man  fetched 
hermit's  cell.  milk  and  white  fa^  and  offered  them  to  the  sick  man.  But 

he  would  not  touch  that  food.  For,  though  he  was  dying  of  hunger,  yet  he 
loathed  that  food  because  of  his  madness. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  lay  there  wounded  and  famishing  and  the  hermit  wist 
not  what  to  do  to  make  him  eat.  And  he  lay  in  that  wise  for  three  days 
and  ever  the  hermit  watched  him  and  tried  to  make  him  partake  of  food, 
and  ever  the  madman  would  fling  away  from  the  food  that  was  offered 
him. 

Now  upon  the  fourth  day,  the  hermit  being  at  his  orisons  in  the  chapel, 
Sir  Launcelot  made  assay  to  rise,  and  in  spite  of  his  weakness,  he  did  arise. 
And  having  thus  arisen,  he  found  strength  in  some  wise  for  to  crawl  out 

of  the  hut  of  the  hermit,  and  the  hermit  at  his  prayers  wist 
escapethfrom  not  that  the  wounded  man  was  gone.  And  after  that  Sir 
*hermif  ***  Launcelot  crept  away  into  the  forest  and  so  hid  himself,  very 

cunningly,  like  to  a  wild  creature,  so  that,  though  the  hermit 
searched  for  him  ever  so  closely,  yet  he  was  not  able  to  find  him.  And  the 
hermit  said:  "Alas  for  this!  For  certes  this  poor  madman  will  die  of  his 
wound  and  of  starvation  all  alone  here  in  the  forest,  and  no  one  can  bring 
him  succor." 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  escaped  from  the  cell  of  the  hermit  a  second 
time.  And  now  it  remaineth  to  be  told  how  he  returned  to  Corbin  and  to 
the  Lady  Elaine  the  Fair,  and  how  the  Lady  Elaine  cherished  him  and 
brought  him  back  to  health  and  strength  and  comeliness  again.  So  I  pray 
you  to  read  that  which  followeth  if  you  would  fain  learn  concerning  those 
things. 


La  Jty  Elaine  $jfc  Fait 


Chapter  Third 

How  Sir  Launcelot  returned  to  Corbin  again  and  how  the  Lad? 
Elaine  the  Fair  cherished  him  and  brought  him  back  to  health. 
Also  how  Sir  Launcelot  with  the  Lady  Elaine  withdrew  to  Joy- 
ous Isle. 

SO  Sir  Launcelot  escaped  from  the  cell  of  the  hermit  as  aforetold. 
And  he  lay  hidden  in  the  thicket?  all  that  day  till  the  night  had 
come.     And  when  the  night  had  come  he  arose  and  turned  his 
face  toward  the  eastward  and  thitherward  he  made  his  way. 

For  death  was  very  close  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  there  was  but  one  thought 
in  his  mind  and  that  thought  was  to  return  to  Corbin.  For 
even  through  his  clouds  of  madness,  Sir  Launcelot  wist  that 
there  at  Corbin  a  great  love  awaited  him  and  that  if  he  might 
reach  that  place  he  might  there  have  rest  and  peace ;  where- 
fore in  this  time  of  weakness  and  of  pain,  he  willed  to  return  to  that  place 
once  more. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  made  his  way  toward  Corbin,  and  he  travelled  thither- 
ward several  days  and  God  alone  knows  how  he  did  so.  And  one  morn- 
ing at  the  breaking  of  the  day  he  came  to  the  town  of  Corbin,  and  he 
entered  the  town  by  a  postern  gate  he  knew  of  old.  And  after  he  had  en- 
tered the  town  he  made  his  way  slowly  and  with  great  pain  up  through  the 
streets  of  the  town  and  the  town  was  still  asleep.  So  he  came  unseen  to 
the  market-place  of  Corbin  where  he  had  aforetime  slain  the  Worm  of  Cor- 
bin as  aforetold,  and  there  sat  him  down  upon  that  slab  of  stone  beneath 
which  the  Worm  had  made  its  habitation.  And  why  he  came  there  who  shall 
say  except  that  maybe  there  lay  very  dimly  within  his  mind  some  remem- 
brance that  here  he  had  one  time  had  great  honor  and  glory  of  knighthood. 

So  there  he  sat,  and  when  the  people  of  the  town  awoke   The 
they  beheld  sitting  there  in  the  midst  of  that  market-place 
one  all  naked  and  famished  who  gazed  about  him  with  wild 
and  terrified  looks  like  to  a  starving  wolf  who  had  come  out  of  the 
driven  by  hunger. 


i92  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

And  many  gathered  and  stared  at  Sir  Launcelot  from  a  distance,  and 
these  laughed  and  jeered  at  him  as  he  sat  there  in  his  nakedness,  and  not 
one  of  those  wist  that  this  was  he  who  had  aforetime  slain  the  Worm  of 
Corbin  and  so  saved  them  in  a  time  of  their  direst  need.  So  they  laughed 
and  mocked  him  and  anon  some  of  those  who  were  there  began  to  cast 
stones  at  him  with  intent  to  drive  him  away  from  that  place.  So,  at  last, 
one  of  those  stones  struck  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  sat,  and  at  that  his 
rage  flamed  up  and  took  possession  of  him,  whereupon  he  leaped  up  and 
ran  at  those  who  were  tormenting  him.  And  he  catched  a  young  man  of 
the  town  and  heaved  him  up  and  cast  him  down  so  violently  upon  the 
earth  that  he  broke  the  bone  of  his  thigh. 

Upon  that  all  those  who  were  there  shouted  and  screamed  and  fled  away. 
The  people  ^n(^  anon  they  returned  and  began  stoning  Sir  Launcelot 
assail  the  where  he  stood  glaring  and  gnashing  his  teeth  with  the  man 
whom  he  had  hurt  lying  upon  the  ground  at  his  feet.  And 
many  stones  struck  Sir  Launcelot,  some  wounding  him  upon  the  head  and 
some  upon  the  body.  And  now  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  would  charge 
the  mob  in  his  rage,  and  the  mob  would  scatter  before  him  like  chaff 
before  a  gust  of  wind ;  but  ever  they  would  return  and  begin  stoning  him 
again. 

So  stoning  Sir  Launcelot  and  so  Sir  Launcelot  charging  the  mob,  the 
people  drove  him  out  of  the  market-place.  And  they  drave  him  through 
the  town  and  Sir  Launcelot  retreated  before  them  toward  the  castle ;  for 
he  wist  even  in  his  madness  that  there  were  friends  there  who  should  help 
him.  So  he  ever  retreated  until  he  had  come  to  a  postern  gate  of  the 
castle,  and  there  he  took  stand  with  his  back  set  against  a  wall.  So  at 
that  place  he  maintained  his  stand,  facing  the  mob  and  glaring  upon  them, 
until  at  last  a  stone  smote  him  upon  the  head  and  he  fell  to  the  earth. 

Then  it  would  have  fared  very  hard  with  Sir  Launcelot,  even  to  his 
death,  had  not  they  within  the  castle,  hearing  the  uproar  of  the  multitude, 
They  of  the  Rung  °Pen  tne  postern  gate  of  a  sudden  and  so  come  charging 

CSi^i^e  t     °Ut  Up°n  the  m°b'     ThereuP°n  the  multitude,  being  thus 
charged  by  the  armed  folk  of  the  castle,  scattered  upon  all 
sides  and  ran  away,  leaving  Sir  Launcelot  lying  where  he  was. 

Then  they  of  the  castle  came  and  gazed  upon  Sir  Launcelot  where  he 
lay,  and  they  beheld  what  a  great  and  noble  frame  of  man  it  was  that  lay 
there,  and  thereupon  they  took  great  pity  that  such  a  man  should  be  in 
that  condition.  So  the  captain  of  the  guard  said:  "Alas,  that  such  a  man 
as  this  has  been  should  come  to  such  a  pass.  Now  let  us  lift  him  up  and 
bear  him  away  into  the  castle  where  he  may  have  care  and  nourishment." 


ELAINE   THE  FAIR  KNOWETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  ,93 

So  they  did  as  that  captain  said,  and  they  brought  Sir  Launcelot  into 
the  castle  of  Corbin  and  to  safety. 

Now  it  chanced^that  the  Lady  Elaine  the  Pair  happened  to  be  at  her 
window,  and  looking  down  therefrom  and  into  the  courtyard  she  beheld 
where  several  men  at  arms  bore  a  wounded  man  into  the  castle  from 
that  postern  gate.     As  they  passed  beneath  where  she  was, 
the  Lady  Elaine  looked  down  upon  the  countenance  of  the   m^lmaw. 
wounded  man.    Then  she  beheld  his  face  with  the  sun  shin-   eth  Sir 
ing  bright  upon  it,  and  at  that  a  thought  struck  through  her   Launc*M- 
like  to  the  stroke  of  a  keen,  sharp  knife,  whereat  the  Lady  Elaine  clasped 
her  hands  and  cried  out  aloud:  "  My  soul!  My  soul!  What  is  this?    Can  it 
be  he?" 

Now  there  was  in  attendance  upon  the  Lady  Elaine  at  that  time  a  cer- 
tain very  old  and  sedate  lady  of  the  court  who  had  been  her  nurse  and 
caretaker  ever  since  her  mother  had  died,  leaving  her  a  little  helpless  babe 
cast  adrift  upon  the  world.  And  the  name  of  that  lady  was  Dame  Bry- 
sen.  So  Elaine  ran  to  where  Dame  Brysen  was  and  she  cast  herself  upon 
her  knees  before  Dame  Brysen  and  buried  her  face  in  Dame  Brysen 's  lap 
even  as  though  it  were  her  mother  who  sat  there.  And  she  cried  out  from 
where  she  lay  with  her  face  in  that  lady's  lap,  "Alas!  Alas!  Alas!  Me- 
thinks  I  have  beheld  a  most  terrible  sight!"  Dame  Brysen,  speaking  as 
in  affright,  said,  "What  hast  thou  seen,  my  child?"  The  Lady  Elaine 
said:  "  Methinks  I  have  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  all  starved  with  famine,  and 
bruised  and  bleeding,  and  lying  so  nigh  to  death  that  I  know  not  whether 
he  is  dead  or  not." 

Dame  Brysen  said:  "  What  is  this  thou  sayst,  my  child?  Where  sawst 
thou  such  a  sight  as  that?  Hast  thou  been  dreaming? "  The  Lady  Elaine 
said:  "  Nay,  I  have  not  been  dreaming,  for,  certes,  as  I  stood  at  the  win- 
dow a  little  while  ago  I  saw  Sir  Launcelot,  and  several  men  bore  him  into 
the  castle  courtyard  through  the  postern  gate,  and  he  was  all  naked  and 
starved  and  wounded  and  bruised." 

The  Dame  Brysen  said:  "Nay,  child,  calm  thyself;  what  ails  thee  to 
think  so  strange  a  thing  as  that?  That  man  whom  thou  didst  see  was  not 
Sir  Launcelot,  but  was  a  poor  madman  whom  the  townsfolk  were  stoning 
at  the  postern  gate." 

But  the  Lady  Elaine  cried  out  all  the  more  vehemently:  "  I  fear!  I  fi 
Certes  that  was  Sir  Launcelot!  Now  take  me  to  him  so  that  I  may  be  as- 
sured whether  it  was  he  or  not,  for  otherwise  meseems  I  shall  go  mad. 

Then  Dame  Brysen  perceived  how  it  was  with  the  Lady  Elaine  and 
that  she  was  like  one  gone  distracted,  and  she  wist  that  there  was  naugh 


i94  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

to  do  but  to  let  her  have  her  will  of  this  matter.  Wherefore  she  said,  "  It 
shall  be  as  thou  wilt  have  it." 

So  Dame  Brysen  arose  and  she  took  the  Lady  Elaine  by  the  hand  and 

she  led  her  to  that  place  where  the  madman  lay,  and  they  beheld  that  he 

lay  in  a  little  cell  of  stone,  very  gloomy  and  dark.     For  the  only  light 

that  came  into  that  place  was  through  a  small  window,  barred 

Elaine  clmeth     with  iron,  and  the  window  was  not  more  than  two  hands' 

to  Sir  Launce-    breadth  in  width.     Yet  by  the  dim  light  of  this  small  window 

they  beheld   the  wounded  man  where  he  lay  upon  a  hard 

pallet  of  straw.     And  they  beheld  that  he  was  in  a  sleep  as  though  it  were 

a  swoon  of  death  and  they  beheld  that  his  face  was  like  death  for  whiteness. 

Then  in  that  gloomy  light  the  Lady  Elaine  came  and  kneeled  down 
beside  the  couch  whereon  he  lay  and  looked  down  into  Sir  Launcelot's 
face  and  she  studied  his  face  as  though  it  were  a  book  written  very  fine 
and  small  ;  and  ever  her  breath  came  more  and  more  quickly  as  it  would 
suffocate  her,  for  she  felt  assured  that  this  was  indeed  Sir  Launcelot.  And 
anon  she  took  Sir  Launcelot's  hand,  all  thin  with  famine  and  as  cold  as  ice, 
and  she  looked  at  it  and  she  beheld  a  ring  upon  the  finger  and  the  ring  was 
set  with  a  clear  blue  stone,  and  thereupon  the  Lady  Elaine  knew  that  this 
was  the  ring  which  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  had  given  Sir  Launcelot  aforetime. 

Thereupon  she  knew  that  this  was  indeed  Sir  Launcelot  and  she  cried 
The  Lady  out  in  a  very  loud  and  piercing  voice,  "  It  is  he!  It  is  he!" 
Elaine  weepeth.  an^  so  cry{ng  she  feu  to  weeping  with  great  passion.  And  she 
kissed  Sir  Launcelot's  hand  and  pressed  it  to  her  throat  and  kissed  it 
again  and  yet  again. 

Then  Dame  Brysen  leaned  over  the  Lady  Elaine  and  catched  her  be- 
neath the  arm  and  said:  "Lady,  Lady!  restrain  your  passion!  remem- 
ber yourself,  and  that  people  are  here  who  will  see  you."  Therewith 
Dame  Brysen  lifted  the  Lady  Elaine  up  from  where  she  kneeled,  and  she 
brought  her  out  of  that  gloomy  place,  still  weeping  with  a  great  passion 
of  love  and  pity.  But  yet  the  Lady  Elaine  had  so  much  thought  for  her- 
self that  she  drew  her  veil  across  her  face  so  that  none  might  behold  her 
passion,  and  she  said  to  Dame  Brysen,  "Take  me  to  my  father,"  and  so, 
Dame  Brysen,  embracing  her  with  one  arm,  led  her  to  where  King  Pelles  was. 

Then,  when  the  Lady  Elaine  beheld  her  father  standing  before  her,  she 
herself  upon  her  knees  and  embraced  him  about  the 


The  Lad 

Elaine  teiieth      thighs,  crying:  "  Father!     Father!     I  have  seen  him  and  he  is 


in  this  castle!"     At  this  passion  of  sorrow  King  Pelles  was 
much  amazed  and  he  said,  "  Whom  hast  thou  seen,  my  daugh- 
ter?"    She  said:  "I  have  seen  Sir  Launcelot,  and  it  was  he  whom  they 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  AWAKETH   TO  REASON  I9$ 

fetched  into  the  castle  but  now  to  save  him  from  the  townsfolk  who  were 
stoning  him  to  death  at  the  postern  gate."  Then  King  Pelles  was  amazed 
beyond  measure  and  he  said:  "Can  such  a  thing  be  true?  How  knowst 
thou  it  was  he? "  She  said:  "  I  know  him  by  many  signs,  for  I  knew  him 
by  my  love  for  him  and  I  knew  him  by  his  face,  and  I  knew  him  by  the 
ring  set  with  a  blue  stone  which  he  weareth  upon  his  finger." 

Then  King  Pelles  lifted  up  the  Lady  Elaine  where  she  kneeled  at  his 
feet  and  he  said:  "  Daughter,  stay  thy  weeping  and  I  will  go  and  examine 
into  this." 

So  he  did  as  he  said  and  he  went  to  the  cell  and  he  looked  long  upon  Sir 
Launcelot  as  he  lay  there.  And  he  looked  at  the  ring  which  the  wounded 
man  wore  upon  his  finger.  So  after  a  while  King  Pelles  knew  that  that 
was  indeed  Sir  Launcelot  who  lay  there,  albeit  he  would  not  have  known 
him,  had  not  the  Lady  Elaine  first  declared  that  it  was  he. 

So  immediately  King  Pelles  bade  those  who  were  in  attendance  to  lift 
Sir  Launcelot  up  and  to  bear  him  very  tenderly  away  from  that  place  and 
to  bring  him  to  a  fair  large  room.  So  they  did  as  King  Pelles  commanded 
and  they  laid  Sir  Launcelot  upon  a  couch  of  down  spread  with  a  coverlet 
of  wadded  satin.  And  King  Pelles  sent  for  a  skilful  leech  to  come  and  to 
search  Sir  Launcelot's  hurts  and  he  bade  the  physician  for  to  take  all  heed 
to  save  his  life.  And  all  that  while  Sir  Launcelot  lay  in  that  deep  swoon 
like  to  death  and  awoke  not. 

And  Sir  Launcelot  slept  in  that  wise  for  three  full  days  and  when  he 
awoke  the  Lady  Elaine  and  her  father  and  Dame  Brysen  and  the  leech 
alone  were  present.  And  lo !  when  Sir  Launcelot  awoke  his  brain  was  clear 
of  madness  and  he  was  himself  again,  though  weak,  like  to  a  little  child 
who  hath  been  ill  abed. 

That  time  the  Lady  Elaine  was  kneeling  beside  Sir  Launcelot's  couch 
and  hers  was  the  face  he  first  beheld.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
said,  speaking  very  faint  and  weak,  "Where  am  I?"  and  the 
Lady  Elaine  wept  and  said,  "  Lord,  you  are  safe  with  those 
who  hold  you  very  dear."  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "What  has 
befallen  me?  "  She  said :  "  Lord,  thou  hast  been  bedazed  in  thy  mind  and 
hast  been  sorely  hurt  with  grievous  wounds,  wherefore  thou  hast  been 
upon  the  very  edge  of  death.  But  now  thou  art  safe  with  those  wn< 

'  He  said,  "  Have  I  then  been  mad?"    And  to  that  they  who  were  there 
said  naught.     Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  again,  "Have  I  been  mad! 
thereupon  King  Pelles  said,  "Yea,  Messire." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  groaned  as  from  his  soul,  and  he  covered  his  face 


196  THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

with  one  hand  (for  the  Lady  Elaine  held  the  other  hand  in  hers)  and  he 
said,  "  What  shame!  What  shame!"  And  therewith  he  groaned  again. 

Then,  ever  weeping,  the  Lady  Elaine  said,  "  No  shame,  Lord,  but  only 
How  Sir  very  great  P^y'"  and  she  kissed  his  hand  and  washed  it  with 

Launceiot  was  her  tears.  And  Sir  Launcelot  wept  also  because  of  his  great 
cherished.  weakness,  and  by  and  by  he  said,  "  Elaine,  meseems  I  have 
no  hope  or  honor  save  in  thee,"  and  she  said,  "Take  peace,  Sir,  for  in  my 
heart  there  is  indeed  both  honor  for  you  and  hope  for  your  great  happi- 
ness." And  so  Sir  Launcelot  did  take  peace. 

Then  after  a  while  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "  Who  here  knoweth  of  my  mad- 
ness?" and  King  Pelles  said,  "  Only  a  very  few  in  this  castle,  Messire." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said :  "  I  pray  you  that  this  be  all  as  secret  as  possi- 
ble, and  that  no  word  concerning  me  goes  beyond  these  walls."  And 
King  Pelles  said,  "  It  shall  be  as  you  would  have  it,  Messire." 

So  it  was  that  the  news  of  Sir  Launcelot's  madness  and  of  his  recovery 
was  not  carried  beyond  those  walls. 

Now  after  a  fortnight  had  passed,  Sir  Launcelot  was  fast  becoming 
cured  in  body  and  mind.  And  one  day  he  and  the  Lady  Elaine  were 
alone  in  that  room  where  he  lay  and  he  said,  "  Lady,  meseems  you  have 
had  great  cause  to  hate  me."  At  this  she  looked  upon  him  and  .smiled, 
and  she  said,  "How  could  I  hate  thee,  Launcelot?"  Sir 
and  Elaine  Launcelot  said,  "  Elaine,  I  have  done  thee  great  and  grievous 
wrong  in  times  gone  by."  She  said,  "Say  naught  of  that.'* 
"Yea,"  he  said,  "I  must  say  much  of  that,  for  I  have  this 
to  say  of  it,  that  I  would  that  I  could  undo  that  wrong  which  I  did  thee 
by  my  neglect.  But  what  have  I  aught  to  offer  thee  in  compensation? 
Naught  but  mine  own  broken  and  beggared  life.  Yet  that  poor  life  and 
all  that  it  holds  dearest  I  would  fain  offer  thee  if  only  it  might  be  a  com- 
pensation to  thee." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  looked  very  long  and  intently  at  Sir  Launcelot 
and  she  said:  "  Sir  Launcelot,  thy  lips  speak  of  duty,  but  that  which  boots 
is  that  thy  heart  should  speak  of  duty.  For  if  so  be  that  thou  hast  ever 
done  me  wrong,  thou  canst  not  hope  to  remove  that  wrong  by  the  words  of 
thy  mouth.  But  if  from  thy  heart  thou  sayst,  '  I  have  wronged  this  one 
and  I  would  fain  make  amends/  then  indeed  may  that  wrong  be  very 
quickly  amended." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  smiled  and  he  said:  "And  so  I  have  looked  well 
into  my  heart  ere  I  spake  to  thee,  and  so  it  is  my  heart  that  speaks  and 
not  my  lips.  For  in  my  heart  meseems  I  find  great  love  for  thee  and 
certes  I  find  all  honor  and  reverence  for  thee  lying  therein,  and  moving 


HOW  SIR   LAUNCELOT  DWELLETH  AT  JOYOUS  ISLE         197 

me  to  everything  that  I  now  hope  to  do  or  to  perform.  Now  tell  me, 
Lady,  what  can  any  heart  hold  more  than  that?"  And  Elaine  said! 
"Meseems  it  can  hold  no  more." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  took  her  by  the  hand  and  drew  her  to  him  and  she 
went  to  him,  and  he  kissed  her  upon  the  lips  and  she  forbade  him  not. 
So  they  two  were  reconciled  in  peace  and  happiness. 

So  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  altogether  healed  of  his  sickness,  tney  two 
were  married.     And  after  they  were  married,   King  Pelles 
gave  to  them  a  very  noble  castle  for  to  be  their  dwelling- 


place  and  that  castle  was  called  the  Castle  of  Blayne.  mine  <"* 

That  castle  stood  upon  a  very  beautiful  island  in  the  midst 
of  a  lake  of  pure  water  as  clear  as  crystal.  And  the  island  was  covered 
over  with  many  plantations  and  orchards  of  beautiful  trees  of  various  fol- 
iages. And  there  were  gardens  and  meadows  upon  that  island  and  there 
was  a  town  about  the  castle  so  fair  that  when  one  stood  upon  the  margin 
of  that  lake  and  gazed  across  the  lake  to  the  town  and  the  castle  he  be- 
held such  a  place  as  one  may  see  in  a  shining  dream. 

So  Sir  Launcelot,  because  of  the  great  peace  of  that  island  and  because 
of  the  peace  which  he  hoped  to  find  there,  called  it  the  Joyous  Isle,  and 
so  it  was  known  of  all  men  from  that  time  forth. 

So  endeth  this  part  of  the  history  of  Sir  Launcelot  with  only  this  to 
say.  That  he  dwelt  there  in  Joyous  Isle  in  seeming  peace  and  content- 
ment. 

Yet  was  it  indeed  peace  and  contentment  that  he  felt?    Alas,  that  it 
should  be  so,  but  so  it  was  that  ever  and  anon  he  would  remember  him  of 
other  days  of  doughty  deeds  of  glory  and  renown,  and  ever 
and  anon  he  would  bethink  him  of  that  beautiful  queen  to 
whom  he   had  one  time  uplifted  his  eyes,  and  of  whom  he 
had  now  no  right  to  think  of   in  that  wise.     Then  his  soul 
would  up  in  arms  and  would  cry  out  aloud:  "Let  us  go  hence  and  seek 
that  glory  and  that  other's  love  once  more!    Are  not  all  thy  comrades 
waiting  for  thee  to  return,  and  doth  not  she  also  look  for  thee?       iner 
Sir  Launcelot  would  ever  say  to  his  soul,  "Down,  proud  spirit,  and 
not  of  these  things,  but  of  duty."    But  ever  and  anon  that  spirit  woul< 
arise  again  within  him  and  would  struggle  with  the  ^  ****** 
held  it  in  check.     And  ever  Sir  Launcelot  would  say,  "That  which  re- 
maineth  for  me  is  my  duty  and  my  peace  of  soul."  ,WPrirp 

For  indeed  it  is  so  that  the  will  of  a  man  is  but  a  poor  weal  d, 
against  the  thoughts  that  arise  within  a  stubborn  heart.    For,  though 


198 


THE  MADNESS  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 


man  may  will  to  do  that  which  is  right,  yet  may  his  thoughts  ever  turn 
to  that  which  is  wrong ;  and  though  he  may  refrain  from  doing  wrong,  yet 
it  is  in  spite  of  his  desirings  that  he  thus  refraineth.  Yea ;  there  is  no  help  for 
a  man  to  contain  himself  within  the  bounds  of  duty,  save  only  that  he  hath 
the  love  of  God  within  his  heart.  For  only  when  his  feet  are  planted 
upon  that  rock  may  he  hope  to  withstand  the  powerful  thoughts  that 
urge  him  to  do  that  which  is  wrong. 

So  it  was  with  Sir  Launcelot  at  that  time;  for  though  he  ever  willed 
to  do  that  which  was  right,  yet  his  desires  ever  called  to  him  to  depart 
£rom  the  paths  of  honor  and  truth  in  which  he  walked,  and  so  he  was 
oftentimes  much  troubled  in  his  spirit. 


PART  V 


The  Story  of  Sir  Ewaine  and  the  Lady 
of  the  Fountain 


beginneth  the  story  of  Sir  Ewaine;  of  how  he  went  forth  to  search 
for  Sir  Launcelot  in  company  with  Sir  Percival  of  Gales;  of  how 
they  two  met  Sir  Sagramore  in  a  condition  of  great  disrepute;  and  of  how 
Sir  Ewaine  undertook  a  very  strange  adventure,  in  which  he  succeeded, 
after  great  danger  to  his  life,  in  winning  the  most  fair  Lady  of  the  Foun- 
tain for  his  wife. 


irGau>ainefKnigl)tof 

Fountain: 


Chapter  First 


How  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival  departed  together  in  quest  of  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  how  they  met  Sir  Sagramore,  who  had  failed  in 
a  certain  adventure.  Also  how  Sir  Sagramore  told  his  story  con- 
cerning that  adventure. 

IT  hath  already  been  told  in  this  book  how  certain  knights  of  King 
Arthur's    court — to  wit,   Sir  Ector  de  Maris,   Sir  Lionel,   Sir  Bors 
de  Ganis,    Sir   Gawaine,    Sir   Ewaine,    Sir  Percival,   Sir  Sagramore 
the  Desirous  and  Sir  Agravaine  went  forth  upon  Queen  Guinevere's  com- 
mand to  search  for  Sir  Launcelot  and  to  bring  him  back  to  the  court  of 
the  King. 

Upon  that  quest,  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ewaine  rode  together  for  the  sake 
of  companionship.     And  they  made  agreement  to  travel  to-   sir  Percival 
gether  in  that  wise  until  the  fortunes  of  adventure  should  and  sir  Ewaine 
separate  them.  jj^fi* 

So  they  rode  side  by  side  in  very  pleasant  companionship, 
taking  the  way  that  chance  led  them,  yet  everywhere  seeking  for  news  of 
Sir  Launcelot,  of  whom  they  could  find  no  word  of  any  sort. 

In  those  days  the  world  was  very  fresh  and  young,  so  that  it  was  great 


202      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE   FOUNTAIN 

pleasure  to  journey  in  that  wise,  for  anon  they  two  rode  beneath  blue  skies 
and  anon  through  gentle  showers,  anon  up  hill  and  anon  down  dale,  anon 
through  countryside,  anon  through  town,  anon  through  forest  and  anon 
through  wold.  Yea ;  in  those  days,  when  the  world  was  young,  all  things 
of  life  were  so  gay  and  joyous  that  it  was  little  wonder  that  good  knights 
like  those  twain  took  delight  in  being  abroad  in  that  wise,  for  so  they  might 
breathe  more  freely,  out  in  the  wider  expanses  of  God's  world,  and  so  the 
spirit  within  them  might  expand  to  a  greater  joy  of  life  than  would  be 
possible  in  court  or  in  lady's  bower. 

So  those  two  worthy  gentlemen  travelled  as  aforesaid  in  good-fellowship 
together,  journeying  hither  or  yon  for  a  fortnight,  neither  hearing  aught 
of  Sir  Launcelot,  or  meeting  with  any  adventure  whatsoever,  and  lodging 
them  at  night  at  what  place  chance  might  happen  to  bring  them. 

At  the  end  of  that  time — to  wit,  a  fortnight — they  came  to  a  certain 
high  hill  and  from  the  summit  thereof  they  beheld  a  valley  that  lay  stretched 
out  beneath  them.  And  they  beheld  a  fair  tall  castle  that  stood  in  the 
The  perceive  m^st  °^  tnat  valley>  and  the  castle  was  surrounded  by  a  little 
a  castle  in  town  and  the  town  was  surrounded  by  many  fair  fields  and 
plantations  and  orchards  of  fruit-trees.  And  at  that  time 
evening  was  coming  on  apace,  and  all  the  golden  sky  was  fading  into 
a  pale  silver,  wonderfully  clear  and  fine,  with  a  single  star,  like  a  jewel, 
shining  in  the  midst  of  the  bright  yet  fading  firmament. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said :  "Sir,  let  us  go  down  to  yonder  place  and  seek 
lodging  at  that  fair  castle,  for  meseems  that  must  be  a  very  pleasant  place 
to  abide  for  the  coming  night."  To  the  which  Sir  Percival  replied,  "  Let 
it  be  so,  brother,"  and  therewith  they  rode  down  into  that  valley  and  to 
that  castle.  And  when  they  had  reached  the  castle,  Sir  Percival  blew 
his  bugle  horn  very  loud  and  clear,  and  straightway  there  came  several 
of  the  attendants  of  the  castle  who  bade  them  welcome  and  led  them 
within  the  gateway  thereof.  There,  when  they  had  arrived,  came  the 
major  of  the  castle,  and  requested  them  that  they  would  tell  what  was 
their  name  and  their  degree,  and  when  the  two  knights  had  announced 
these  there  was  great  rejoicing  that  two  such  famous  champions  had  come 
thitherward.  So  several  ran  and  took  their  horses  in  charge  and  others 
came  and  assisted  them  to  dismount  and  others  again  led  them  into  the 
castle  and  thence  brought  them  each  to  a  fair  chamber,  well  bedight  and 
with  a  very  cheerful  outlook.  Then  came  other  attendants  and  assisted 
each  knight  to  disarm  and  to  disrobe,  and  after  that  they  brought  each  to  a 
bath  of  tepid  water.  Thereafter,  when  they  had  bathed  and  dried  them- 
selves with  fair  linen  towels,  very  soft  and  fragrant  with  lavender,  these 


SIR  EWAINE  AND  SIR  PERCIVAL  LODGE  AT  A   CASTLE      203 

same  attendants  brought  them  rich  robes  of  silk  and  garments  of  silk,  and 
they  dressed  them  and  were  at  great  ease  and  comfort. 

For  thus  it  was  that  good  knights  of  old  were  received  in  such  castles 
and  halls  wheresoever  they  chose  to  abide  in  that  adventurous  wise. 

Now  after  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival  had  refreshed  themselves  and 
bathed  themselves  and  had  clad  themselves  as  aforetold,  there  came  to 
them  a  certain  dignitary  of  the  castle,  who  brought  them  sir  Percivai 
word  that  the  lord  of  the  castle  desired  to  have  speech  with  and  Sir  Ewaine 
them.     So  they  two  went  down  with  that  attendant,  and  he  '£  J  the 
brought  them  to  the  great  hall  of  the  castle  where  was  the  castk- 
lord  thereof,  standing  to  give  them  welcome.     He  was  a  haughty  and 
noble  worthy  with  a  long  gray  beard  and  he  was  clad  in  a  dark  purple  robe 
embroidered  with  silver.     When  he  beheld  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival 
coming  into  that  place,  he  hastened  to  meet  them  and  give  them  greeting 
and  welcome  beyond  stint.     And  he  said:  "Welcome,  welcome,  fair  lords! 
Thrice  welcome  to  this  castle!    For  certes  it  is  a  great  glory  to  us  all  to 
have  you  with  us.     Moreover,  I  may  tell  you  that  already  there  is  one  of 
your  fellows  here  at  this  place,  and  I  believe  you  will  be  very  glad  to  see 
him." 

Quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  " Sir,  who  is  it  that  is  here?" 

"  It  is  Sir  Sagramore  who  hath  come  hither,"  said  the  lord  of  the  castle, 
and  at  that  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival  cried  out  with  amaze-  They  hear 
ment      And    Sir   Ewaine   said,  "  How  came   Sir   Sagramore  news  of  sir 
hither,  fair  lord?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  said  the  lord  of  the  castle.     "  A  little  before  you  came 
hitherward,  there  arrived  at  this  place  a  knight  riding  without  a  shield 
and  seated  upon  a  white  mule.     This  knight  requested  rest  and  refresh- 
ment for  the  night,  and  upon  our  asking  him  his  name  and  degree,  he  at 
first  refused  to  tell,  for  shame  of  his  condition;  yet  afterward  he  declared 
that  he  was  Sir  Sagramore  of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  a  knight  of  the 
Round  Table.     He  also  declared  that  he  had  met  with  a  sad  mischance  an 
had  lost  his  shield  and  his  war-horse,  wherefore  he  was  travelling  in  t 
wise  as  I  have  told  you."  Q. 

"Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  "this  is  a  very  strange  thing  I  hear,  that 
Sagramore  should  be  travelling  in  that  unknightly  wise.    Wit  yoi          ,  as 
Sir  Sagramore  is  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  this  matter  concern! 
Sir  Percival  and  myself  very  closely.     Now  I  pray  you  for  to  let  me ^have 
speech  with  him,  so  that  I  may  know  why  it  is  that  he  hath  travel 
that  wise  and  without  his  knightly  shield."  ffi^^otlp  "and 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  command,  Messire,"  said  the  lord  of  the  castle, 


204      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

so  I  will  straightway  send  a  messenger  to  Sir  Sagramore  with  word  that 
you  would  have  speech  with  him." 

"  So  the  lord  of  the  castle  sent  the  messenger  as  he  said,  and  anon  there 
Sir  Sagramore  came  Sir  Sagramore  to  where  they  were.  But  when  Sir  Sag- 
appeareth.  ramore  stood  before  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Percival,  he  hung  his 
head  full  low,  as  though  not  wishing  to  look  those  knights  in  the  face  be- 
cause of  shame  that  they  should  find  him  there  in  such  a  condition.  Then 
Sir  Ewaine  said  to  him:  "  Sir,  I  pray  you  tell  me  how  you  came  by  such  a 
mischance  as  this,  so  that  you  ride  without  your  shield  and  upon  a  white 
mule  like  to  a  strolling  demoiselle?" 

"Messire,"  said  Sir  Sagramore,  "I  will  tell  you  the  whole  story,  for 
I  would  have  you  know  that  it  was  through  no  disgrace  but  by  mishap 
of  battle  that  I  am  come  to  this  pass." 

Quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  "  I  may  well  believe  that." 

Then  the  lord  of  the  castle  said :  "  Messires,  ere  you  talk  of  these  things 
I  pray  you  to  come  to  table  and  eat  and  drink  and  refresh  yourselves. 
After  that  we  may  listen  with  a  better  spirit  to  what  this  knight  has  to  tell 


us." 


So  that  which  the  lord  of  the  castle  said  seemed  very  good  to  those 
knights,  wherefore  they  straightway  went  in  to  table  in  the  hall  and  sat 
down  thereat.  And  the  table  was  spread  with  all  manner  of  meats,  and 
The  ail  sit  there  was  wine  of  divers  sorts,  both  red  and  white,  and  they 
at  feast  to-  ate  and  drank  with  much  appetite  and  great  good -will.  Then 
get  '  when  they  were  satisfied  as  to  their  hunger,  Sir  Ewaine  said 

to  Sir  Sagramore:  "Now,  Messire,  I  pray  you  to  tell  us  concerning  that 
adventure  which  hath  befallen  you." 

Sir  Sagramore  said,  "  I  will  do  so."     Then  he  said: 

"  You  must  know  that  when  I  travelled  forth  errant  in  search  of  Sir 

Launcelot,  as  several  of  my  fellows  did,  I  went  forward  upon  my  way, 

Sir  Sagramore    ma^ng  diligent  inquiries  concerning  him,  but  still  could  get 

telieth  of  his       no  news  of  him.     So  I  travelled  onward  in  that  wise,  ever 

making  inquiries  as  aforesaid,  until  two  days  ago,  what  time 
in  the  evening  I  came  to  a  certain  place  a  considerable  distance  to  the  east 
of  this.  There  I  found  myself  in  a  valley  that  I  verily  believe  must  be 

the  fairest  valley  in  the  world.     For  in  that  valley  I  beheld 

a  veiT  pleasant  expanse  of  meadow-lands  all  abloom  with 
a  wonderful  flowers,  and  I  beheld  many  glades  of  trees  of  an  even  size, 
^enchantment,  some  abloom  with  blossoms  and  some  full  of  fruit.  And  there 

was  a  river  of  very  clear  water  that  flowed  down  through 
the  centre  of  the  valley,  and  everywhere  there  were  birds  of  curious 


HOW  SIR  SAGRAMORE  CAME   TO   THE  CASTLE  OF   VIVIEN  205 

plumage  that  sang  very  bewitchingly,  so  from  these  things  I  wist  that 
this  valley  was  very  likely  a  place  of  enchantment.  In  the  midst  of  that 
valley  I  beheld  a  very  noble  castle  that  was  of  as  wonderful  an  appear- 
ance as  the  valley  itself,  so  I  rode  forward  into  the  valley  and  approached 
the  castle. 

"As  I  drew  near  thereunto  I  beheld  two  youths  clad  in  flame-colored 
satin  who  shot  at  a  mark  with  bows  and  arrows.  And  the  hair  of  the 
youths  was  yellow  and  curling,  and  each  bore  a  frontlet  of  gold  upon  his 
head,  and  they  wore  upon  their  feet  shoes  of  embossed  leather  with  latchets 
of  gold  upon  the  insteps. 

"  These  two  youths,  as  I  drew  near,  gave  me  very  courteous  greeting, 
and  besought  me  that  I  would  declare  to  them  my  name  and  degree,  and 
I  did  so.  Then  they  besought  me  that  I  would  come  with  them  to  the 
castle,  and  I  went  with  them  with  great  content  of  spirit;  for  it  seemed 
to  me  that  this  was  likely  to  be  a  very  fair  and  cheerful  place  to  lodge 
over-night.  So  I  entered  with  those  two  youths  into  the  castle,  and  there 
came  attendants  and  took  my  horse  and  there  came  others  who  unarmed 
me  and  led  me  to  a  bath  of  tepid  water.  After  that  I  descended  to  the 
hall  of  that  castle,  and  there  I  beheld  that  it  was  all  hung  with  tapestries 
and  fabrics  of  divers  sorts  and  of  very  rich  and  beautiful  designs. 

"In  that  hall  there  were  twelve  ladies  who  sat  embroidering  cloth  of 
satin  at  a  window,  and  I  think  I  have  hardly  ever  seen  any  ladies  who 
were  so  beautiful  as  they.     Immediately  I  entered  that  room   sir  Sagramore 
these  twelve  ladies  arose,  and  she  who  was  the  fairest  amongst  meets  the  Lady 
them  came  forward  and  gave  me  greeting.    And  immediately 
I  knew  that  lady  that  she  was  the  Lady  Vivien  who  beguiled  the  Enchanter 
Merlin  to  his  undoing  and  his  ruin.     Yet  in  this  time,  I  do  assure  you,  she 
has  grown  more  beautiful  than  ever  she  was  before;  for  her  hair,  which 
was  ruddy,  is  now  like  to  pure  gold  for  brightness,  and  it  was  enmeshed 
in  a  golden  net,  and  yet  one  could  not  tell  whether  the  net  or  the  hair 
shone  the  more  brightly.    And  her  eyes,  which  are  perfectly  black  are  as 
bright  as  jewels,  and  her  lips  are  like  red  corals  and  very  fragrant,  and 
her  teeth  are  like  to  rich  pearls.     Moreover,  she  was  clad  in  garments  o 
flame-colored  satin,  and  her  neck  and  arms  were  adorned  with  ornament; 
of  gold  set  with  jewels  of  a  great  many  kinds  and  colors.    And  weU  ye 
wist,  Messires,  that  it  was  very  difficult  not  to  be  altogether  e 
her  beauty  of  face  and  appearance. 

"  Yet  well  knowing  how  this  lady  loved  mischief,  I  was  for  a  t 
ill  at  ease,  not  knowing  whether  or  not  she  might  be  minded  to  cast ;  a 
evil  spell  upon  me.     Yet  she  made  no  sign  of  such  intent,  but  spa 


206      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

very  fair  and  gave  me  courteous  greeting.  And  she  took  my  hand  and 
led  me  into  an  adjoining  apartment  where  there  was  a  feast  set  with  all 
sorts  of  meats  and  wines,  and  we  two  took  our  places  at  the 
feaJtifrith*  board  side  by  side.  And  as  we  feasted  so  together,  there  came 
the  Lady  some  who  sang  and  others  who  made  sweet  music  and  I  felt 
such  great  pleasure  as  I  have  hardly  ever  felt  in  all  of  my  life 
before.  Meanwhile,  as  we  sat  at  the  table,  the  Lady  Vivien  conversed 
with  me  upon  such  matters  as  she  deemed  would  be  of  entertainment  to 
me.  And  she  inquired  of  many  lords  and  ladies  at  the  court  of  the  King 
and  spake  well  of  them  all.  Then  after  a  considerable  while  she  inquired 
of  me  whether  it  would  be  pleasant  to  me  to  tell  her  upon  what  errand 
I  was  bound,  and  so  I  told  her  I  was  errant  in  search  of  Sir  Launcelot. 

"'Ha!'  quoth  she,  'if  thou  wert  in  search  of  adventure,  I  could  bring 
you  to  one  that  would  be  well  worth  undertaking/ 

"  I  said  to  her:  '  Lady,  though  I  am  errant  upon  a  certain  business,  yet 
I  am  very  ready  to  stay  my  affairs  for  a  while  if  so  be  I  may  meet  with  an 
adventure  that  may  bring  me  any  credit.' 

"  At  that  the  Lady  Vivien  laughed,  and  she  said:  '  Sir  Sagramore,  I  know 
The  Lady  no't  what  credit  you  may  obtain  in  this  adventure,  but  I  will 
Vivien  teUeth  tell  you  what  you  are  to  do  to  enter  into  it.  To-morrow  I  will 
tfanafa^*  ordain  that  one  of  the  youths  who  brought  you  hither  shall 
ture-  conduct  you  to  a  certain  path  that  leads  through  the  forest 

that  lies  beyond  this  valley.  If  you  will  follow  that  path,  you  will  by  and 
by  come  to  a  mound  of  earth,  and  on  that  mound  you  will  very  likely  be- 
hold a  man  of  gigantic  stature  who  is  herdsman  to  a  herd  of  cattle  there- 
abouts. Ask  him  where  is  the  enchanted  fountain,  and  he  will  direct  you 
still  farther  upon  the  way.' 

"  I  said  to  her : '  Lady,  I  am  very  much  beholden  to  you  for  the  informa- 
tion you  give  me,  and  I  will  very  gladly  take  up  with  this  adventure.' 
Upon  this  she  laughed  a  very  great  deal  and  said : '  Sir  Knight,  it  may  be 
that  after  you  have  passed  through  this  adventure,  you  will  not  be  so'pleased 
either  with  me  or  with  yourself.  Now  I  have  this  to  ask  of  you  in  return 
for  my  entertainment  of  to-night.  My  request  is  that  you  will  return  hither- 
ward  to  me  after  you  have  finished  this  adventure  so  that  I  may  see  how  it 
hath  happened  with  you.'  I  said  to  the  lady,  *  It  shall  be  as  you  ask/ 

"So  when  the  next  morning  had  come  I  arose  very  early  and  donned 

sir  Sagramore    mine  armor.     And  there  came  to  me  one  of  those  youths 

departs  upon      aforetold  of,  and  he  aided  me  to  my  horse  and  afterward 

guided  me  through  that  valley.     So  he  brought  me  to  the 

borders  of  a  woodland  that  lay  beyond  the  vallev  and  there  he  showed  me 


•HOW  SIR  SAGRAMORE  CAME   TO   THE  FOUNTAIN  207 

a  path  and  bade  me  take  that  path  and  it  would  bring  me  to  that  adven- 
ture I  sought. 

"  Thereafter  I  followed  that  path,  and  after  I  had  gone  upon  the  way  a 
considerable  distance  I  came,  some  time  before  midday,  to  that  mound 
whereof  the  lady  had  spoken. 

"  On  the  top  of  the  mound  there  sat  a  man  of  gigantic  size  and  so  hide- 
ously ugly  that  I  never  beheld  his  like  in  all  of  my  life  before  that  time. 
This  being  called  to  me  in  a  voice  exceedingly  loud  and  rough,  demanding 
of  me  whither  I  went  and  upon  what  business.  Thereupon  I  told  him 
that  I  sought  a  certain  magic  fountain  and  that  I  would  be  much  beholden 
to  him  if  he  would  direct  me  upon  my  way.  Upon  this  he  laughed  very 
boisterously,  and  after  a  while  he  said:  'Take  that  path  yonder  through 
the  glade.  Follow  that  path  until  you  come  to  a  hill.  From  the  hilltop 
you  will  find  before  you  a  valley,  and  you  will  see  in  the  valley  a  fountain 
of  water  that  flows  into  a  small  lake  with  many  lilies  about  the  margin. 
At  the  fountain  is  a  tall  tree  with  wide-spreading  branches,  and  beneath 
the  tree  is  a  marble  slab,  and  upon  the  slab  is  a  silver  bowl  attached  to  it  by 
a  chain  of  silver.  Take  some  of  the  water  of  that  fountain  into  the  silver 
bowl  and  fling  it  upon  the  marble  slab,  and  I  believe  you  will  find  an 
adventure  that  will  satisfy  your  desires  for  a  very  long  time  to  come.' 

"  So  spake  that  gigantic  oaf.  I  took  the  path  to  which  he  directed  me, 
and  I  followed  the  path  until  I  came  to  the  hill,  and  I  climbed 
the  hill  and  there  I  beheld  the  valley  of  which  he  spake.  And 
I  beheld  the  lake  of  lilies  of  which  he  spake  and  I  beheld  the 
fountain  that  flowed  into  the  lake  and  I  beheld  the  tree  that 
overshadowed  the  fountain,  so  I  straightway  rode  down  into  the  valley 
thereunto.  And  when  I  had  come  to  the  tree  I  beheld  the  slab  of  stone 
and  the  bowl  of  silver  just  as  that  gigantic  herdsman  had  said  that  I 
would  find  them.  Then  I  dipped  the  silver  bowl  into  the  sirSagramore 
water  as  he  had  told  me  to  do  and  I  flung  the  water  of  the  j^*^ 
fountain  upon  the  marble  slab. 

"Then  immediately  a  very  singular  thing  happened,  for  lo!  the  earth 
began  to  tremble  and  to  shake,  and  the  skies  began,  as  it  were,  to  thunder, 
and  all  over  the  sky  there  spread  a  cloud  of  very  great  blackness  and 
density  so  that  whilst  it  was  still  midday,  it  began  to  grow  dark  like  night- 
time. Then  there  came  a  great  wind  of  such  strength  that  I  thought  it 
would  blow  me  away,  and  after  that  there  fell  a  rain  in  such  quantities 
and  with  such  deluge  that  methought  I  would  be  drowned  by  that  ram 
And  the  rain  roared  down  in  torrents  everywhere  through  that  va  ley  as  it 
were  a  deluge  And,  as  the  rain  fell  and  the  thunder  burst  forth  from  1 


208      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE   AND   LADY   OF   THE   FOUNTAIN 

sky  and  the  lightning  flamed  like  living  fire,  I  heard,  as  from  a  very  great 
distance,  the  sound  of  many  voices  raised  in  lamentation. 

"Then,  by  and  by,  the  storm  passed  and  the  clouds  disappeared  and 
the  sun  came  forth  with  extraordinary  brightness.  Then  lo!  there  hap- 
pened another  singular  thing,  for  presently  there  came  a  great  multitude 
of  birds  flying  through  the  air,  and  they  lodged  in  that  tree  above  the 
fountain,  and  they  sang  with  such  exquisite  melody  that  methought  that 
my  heart  would  break  with  the  joy  of  their  singing. 

"  Now  whilst  I  sat  there  listening  to  those  birds,  I  beheld  where,  a  great 
way  off,  there  came  a  horseman  riding  with  extraordinary  rapidity  across 
the  plain,  and  as  he  drew  nigh  I  beheld  that  he  was  a  knight  seated  upon 
a  black  horse  and  clad  all  in  black  armor.  This  knight  came  riding  very 
violently  toward  where  I  was,  and  he  called  out  in  a  very  fierce  loud  voice: 
'Sir  Knight,  wherefore  did  you  meddle  with  my  fountain.  Know  that 
you  have  brought  a  great  deluge  upon  this  land,  and  for  that  I  am  come 
hither  to  punish  you.  Now  defend  yourself  from  my  anger,  for  it  is  very 
great/ 

"  Therewith  he  made  ready  to  assail  me,  and  I  upon  my  part  immediately 
sir  Sagramore  Pu^  my  self  into  a  posture  of  defence,  and  dressed  my  shield 


i5  °thrtKnifht  anc^  mv  sPear'  an(^  to°k  Post  uPon  the  meadow  close  to  the 
of  the  fountain.  After  that  I  ran  a  tilt  against  that  knight  and  he 

Fountain.  ran  agamst  me,  and  he  cast  me  out  of  my  saddle  with  such 
violence  that  methinks  I  have  never  before  felt  a  buffet  like  to  that  which 
I  then  received. 

"  Having  thus  cast  me  down,  he  paid  no  more  heed  to  me  than  if  I  had 
been  a  billet  of  wood,  but  he  took  from  me  my  shield  and  he  laid  it  upon 
the  saddle  of  my  horse  and  he  took  my  horse  by  the  rein  and  rode  away 
from  that  place,  leaving  me  still  lying  upon  the  ground.  And  in  depart- 
ing he  said  not  one  single  word  to  me.  And  indeed  I  do  think,  Messires, 
that  I  was  never  so  abashed  in  all  my  life  before. 

"  Then  I  remembered  how  that  I  had  pledged  myself  to  return  to  the 
Lady  Vivien,  and  at  that  I  was  more  ashamed  than  ever.  So,  in  obe- 
dience to  that  promise,  I  had  to  make  my  way  back  whence  I  came  on  foot. 
When  I  passed  by  where  was  that  mound,  the  gigantic  creature  who  sat 
thereon  made  great  mock  of  me.  And  when  I  reached  the  castle,  the 
The  Lady  Lady  Vivien  looked  at  me  out  of  a  window  and  laughed  at 
Vivien  mocketh  me  beyond  measure.  And  when  I  requested  admission  to 
the  castle,  she  denied  me  entrance  thereunto,  and  when  I  be- 
sought her  for  to  lend  me  a  horse  to  ride  upon  my  way,  she  gave  me  in- 
stead a  white  mule  for  to  bear  me  thence.  So  I  returned  hitherward  upon 


SIR  EWAINE  TAKETH  UP  THE  QUARREL 

a  white  mule  without  any  shield,  and  thus  I  have  confessed  everything  to 
you  to  the  last  word." 

Such  was  the  story  of  Sir  Sagramore,  and  thereunto  all  those  who  were 
there  listened  with  great  attention  and  with  much  amazement  Then  Sir 
Ewaine  spake,  saying:  "That  was  a  very  great  shame  that  was  put  upon 
you,  Messire;  and  I  take  it  so  greatly  to  heart  that  had  I  suffered  it  in  my 
own  person  methinks  I  could  not  feel  much  greater  shame  than  I  do  For 
that  which  hath  befallen  you  is,  as  it  were,  a  despite  put  upon  all  of  us  who 
are  knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Wherefore,  being  a  fellow  of  that  com- 
pany, your  despite  is  my  despite  also.  As  for  that  mischievous  Lady  Vivien, 
methinks  that  she  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  this  coil,  and  I  am  much  misled 
if  this  hath  not  all  been  devised  by  her  to  bring  shame  upon  you  who  are  a 
knight  of  King  Arthur's  court  and  of  the  Round  Table." 

Quoth  Sir  Percival,  "That  may  very  well  be  so,  Messire." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "Well,  Messires,  as  for  me,  I  am  of  no  mind 
to  sit  down  quietly  under  this  affront." 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Sagramore,  "what  would  you  do?" 

"  I  would  do  this,"  said  Sir  Ewaine.  "  I  would  go  upon  that  same  quest 
in  which  you  have  failed,  and  if  I  succeed  therein,  then  will  the  shame 
of  your  mischance  be  wiped  away  from  us  all." 

Thus  spake  Sir  Ewaine  with  great  feeling;  for  you  are  to  know  that  those 
noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table  were  so  closely  knit  into  brotherly  fellow- 
ship that  whatsoever  ill  thing  befell  to  the  injury  of  one  was  in  that  same 
measure  an  injury  to  all,  and  that  whatsoever  quarrel  was  taken  up  by 
one  of  that  company,  was  a  quarrel  appertaining  to  all.  Wherefore  it  was 
the  injury  that  had  been  done  to  Sir  Sagramore  was  also  an  injury  done  to 
Sir  Ewaine,  and  so  it  was  that  Sir  Ewaine  felt  himself  called  upon  to  un- 
dertake that  adventure  in  which  Sir  Sagramore  had  failed  as  aforesaid. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said  :  "  Now  I  prithee  tell  me  where  that  path  is  that 
may  bring  me  to  this  adventure  and  to-morrow  I  will  part  from  you  and 
will  myself  enter  upon  it.  Meantime,  do  you  both  resume  your  quest  of 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  if  I  should  not  prosper  in  this  undertaking,  I  will  re- 
turn hither  and  leave  report  of  my  happenings.  Wherefore  at  this  place 
you  may,  at  any  time,  easily  hear  what  hath  befallen  me  if  you  will  come 
hither." 

So  Sir  Sagramore  gave  Sir  Ewaine  such  directions  for  that  adventure  as 
were  necessary  and  after  that  they  all  went  to  bed  to  rest  them  after  their 
travails  of  the  day.  And  when  the  next  morning  had  come  and  while 


. 

the  dew  still  lay  upon  the  grass,  shining  like  to  a  thin  veil  of  . 
silver  spread  over  the  level  meadow-lands,  Sir  Ewaine  arose  all  in  the  fresh 


210    STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

ness  of  the  early  daytime  and  busked  him  whilst  the  rest  of  the  castle  still 
Sir  Ewaine  laY  fast  asleep.  And  he  donned  his  armor  and  went  down  and 
departeth  upon  aroused  the  sleeping  groom  and  gave  command  that  his  horse 

the  Adventure  ,-,,,  VT          «_•  j      ** 

of  the  Foun-  should  be  brought  to  him ;  and  after  the  groom  had  appar- 
tain.  elled  his  horse  he  mounted  and  rode  forth  upon  that  way 

which  Sir  Sagramore  had  advised  him  would  lead  him  toward  the  castle 
of  the  Lady  Vivien. 

And  now  if  you  would  know  how  Sir  Ewaine  prospered  in  that  under- 
taking which  he  had  assumed,  I  pray  you  to  read  further  in  this  history 
and  you  shall  hear  how  it  befell  with  him. 


it  E  umine  poured)  water  on 


Chapter  Second 

How  Sir  Ewaine  undertook  that  adventure  in  which  Sir  Saga- 
more had  failed,  and  how  it  sped  with  him  thereafter. 

THUS  it  was  that  Sir  Ewaine  departed  upon  that  adventure  whilst  Sir 
Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore  were  still  asleep,  and  no  one  wist  of  his 
going  saving  only  the  groom.     After  he  wended  his  way  from  that 
place  until  he  had  come  to  the  woodlands,  and  he  entered  the  woodlands 
and  travelled  therein  for  a  long  while,  breaking  his  fast  with  the  charcoal 
burners  whom  he  found  there  at  a  curious  place.  About  the  middle  of  the 
morning  he  came  to  a  high  hill,  and  when  he  had  climbed  this  hill  he  beheld 
before  him  a  very  strangely  beautiful  valley,  and  he  beheld  that  in  the  midst 
of  the  valley  there  stood  a  wonderful  castle,  and  he  wist  that  this  must  be 
the  castle  of  the  Lady  Vivien  of  which  Sir  Sagramore  had  aforetold  of. 
And  Sir  Ewaine  was  astonished  at  the  wonderful  appearance  of  that 
castle  and  the  valley  in  which  it  stood.     For  this  castle  was  bright  and 
shining  as  though  of  polished  stone,  and  the  roofs  thereof    sir  Ewaine 
were  of  bright  red  tile  variegated  with  dark  green  tiles  and 
black  tiles,  laid  in  sundry  figures  and  patterns  very  strange 
to  behold.     And  the  valley  in  which  the  castle  stood  was 
spread  out  with  fair  lawns  and  gardens  and  meadow-lands  and  plantations 
of  comely  trees.     And  everywhere  there  were  flowers  abloom  in  incredible 
quantities,  and  there  were  thousands  of  birds  of  bright  plumage  that  sang 
in  the  trees  throughout  the  valley,  so  that  the  multitudinous  sounds  of  their 
singing  came  even  to  Sir  Ewaine  where  he  sat  so  far  distant.    And  ever  those 
birds  flitted  like  bright  sparks  of  color  hither  and  thither  through  the 
foliage  of  the  trees,  and  Sir  Ewaine  had  never  beheld  their  like  before 
in  all  of  his  life.     So  because  of  the  wonderfulness  of  all  that  he  behelc 
Sir  Ewaine  wist  that  this  must  be  a  land  of  faery  and  enchantment  with 
which  the  Lady  Vivien  had  surrounded  her  castle  and  herself  and 
court.     So  for  a  while  Sir  Ewaine  sat  there  observing  all  these  things,  an 
after  a  while  he  set  spurs  to  horse  and  rode  down  into  that  valley  i 
toward  the  castle. 


2i4      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

Now  when  Sir  Ewaine  had  come  pretty  near  to  the  castle,  he  beheld  two 
youths  with  golden  hair,  clad  in  garments  of  flame-colored  satin,  and  he 
knew  that  these  must  be  the  two  fair  youths  of  whom  Sir  Sagramore  had 
spoken.  And  he  saw  that  those  two  youths  were  playing  at  ball  under 
the  walls  of  the  castle  just  as  Sir  Sagramore  had  beheld  them  when  he  had 
visited  that  place. 

These,  when  Sir  Ewaine  drew  nigh,  ceased  their  play,  and  he  who  was 
the  chief  of  the  twain  came  forward  and  greeted  that  noble  knight  with 
great  courtesy,  saying:  "Sir  Knight,  you  are  very  welcome  to  these  parts 
where  not  many  ever  come.  For  she  who  is  the  lady  of  this  castle  ever 
takes  pleasure  in  giving  welcome  to  such  as  you  who  come  thitherward. 
Now  I  pray  you  of  your  courtesy  to  tell  me  who  you  are  and  upon  what 
quest  you  are  bound  and  what  is  your  degree,  for  I  would  fain  announce 
you  with  all  dignity  to  the  lady  of  the  castle." 

Quoth  Sir  Ewaine:  "  Fair  youth,  you  are  to  know  that  I  am  a  knight  of 
King  Arthur's  court,  and  that  I  am  a  fellow  of  the  Round  Table.  My 
name  is  Sir  Ewaine,  and  I  am  King  Uriens'  son  of  Gore,  my  mother  be- 
ing Queen  Morgana  le  Fay.  As  for  your  lady,  I  know  very  well  who 
she  is,  and  that  she  is  none  other  than  the  Enchantress  Vivien.  More- 
over, I  know  that  she  is  not  at  all  above  devising  mischief  against  me 
because  I  am  a  knight  of  King  Arthur  and  of  his  Round  Table.  Yet 
I  will  that  you  bring  me  before  this  lady,  for  I  would  fain  have  speech 
with  her." 

Upon  this,  so  boldly  said  by  Sir  Ewaine,  those  two  fair  youths  were 
adoubt,  wherefore  they  withdrew  a  little  to  one  side  and  held  consultation 
together.  Then  he  who  had  before  spoken  to  Sir  Ewaine  spake  again, 
saying:  "  Messire,  I  trust  you  have  it  not  in  your  mind  to  do  any  ill  to  the 
lady  of  this  castle,  for  unless  we  are  well  assured  upon  that  point  we  will 
not  bring  you  to  her." 

"  Rest  ye  easy,"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine;  "  I  am  a  true  knight,  and  mean  no  ill 
to  any  lady,  be  she  evil  or  good.  Only  I  would  have  speech  with  her  as 
presently  as  may  be." 

Then  the  youth  who  was  the  speaker  for  the  two  said,  "  Sir,  I  will  take 
you  to  her." 

So  forthwith  that  youth  led  the  way  into  the  enchanted  castle  and 
Sir  Ewaine  followed  closely  after  him.  And  after  they  had  come  unto  the 
sir  Ewaine  castle  and  after  Sir  Ewaine  had  dismounted  from  his  horse  and 
after  they  had  travered  various  spaces,  the  youth  brought  Sir 
Ewaine  to  where  the  Lady  Vivien  was.  And  she  was  in  her 
own  fair  bower  with  her  eleven  damsels  gathered  about  her. 


HOW  SIR  EWAINE  COMETH   TO   VIVIEN'S  CASTLE 

Now  the  news  of  the  coming  of  Sir  Ewaine  had  gone  before  him,  so  that 
when  he  came  to  the  Lady  Vivien  she  arose  from  her  seat  and  went  for- 
ward to  meet  him  and  received  him  with  her  face  all  wreathed 
with    smiles.     And    she    said:    "Welcome!  Welcome!  Thrice 
welcome,  Sir  Ewaine!    Now  I  pray  you  to  let  my  attendants 
conduct  you  to  a  fair  room  where  you  may  bathe  and  refresh 
yourself,  for  we  would  fain  have  you  stay  with  us  at  this  place  for  a  day 
or  two  or  three  if  so  be  you  will  favor  us  so  greatly." 

But  Sir  Ewaine  neither  smiled  nor  made  acknowledgment  of  any  sort; 
otherwise  he  spake  with  great  sternness,  saying:  "Fair  Lady,  I  know  you 
well,  and  I  know  that  you  have  no  very  good  will  toward  us  who  are  of 
King  Arthur's  court.  I  know  that  you  continually  devise  mischief  and 
enchantments  against  all  who  come  near  you,  and  I  well  believe  that  could 
you  do  so  without  danger  to  yourself,  you  would  this  moment  practise 
mischiefs  against  me.  Nevertheless,  I  am  not  come  hither  to  chide  you 
because  of  your  shortcomings,  for  though  all  those  things  are  well  known 
to  me  and  to  others,  yet  I  leave  it  to  God  to  judge  you  in  His  own  wis- 
dom and  am  not  come  hither  to  be  myself  your  judge.  What  I  have  come 
for  is  this :  not  long  since  you  sent  my  fellow,  Sir  Sagramore,  upon  an  adven- 
ture that  brought  great  shame  upon  him.  Now  I  pray  you  that  you  will 
direct  me  to  that  same  adventure  so  that  I  may  undertake  it,  for,  if  so  be 
I  have  that  good  fortune,  I  would  fain  punish  that  discourteous  knight  who 
so  shamed  my  companion  at  arms." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien  laughed  very  high  and  shrill.  "  Sir,"  quoth  she, 
"  you  are  very  brave  for  to  undertake  that  adventure  wherein  so  good  a 
knight  as  Sir  Sagramore  failed  so  signally.  Gladly  will  I  direct  you  upon 
your  way,  and  all  that  I  ask  in  return  is  that  when  you  have  sped  in  that 
adventure,  you  will  also  return  hither  as  did  Sir  Sagramore,  so  that  I  may 
bestow  a  white  mule  upon  you  as  I  bestowed  one  to  him." 

To  this  Sir  Ewaine  bowed  his  head  very  gravely  and  said:  "Be  it  so. 
Show  me  the  way  to  that  adventure,  and  if  I  fail  therein,  then  I  will  sub- 
mit myself  to  you  so  that  you  may  humiliate  me  as  you  humiliated  Sir 
Sagramore." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien  called  to  her  that  youth  who  had  afore  spoken 
to  Sir  Ewaine,  and  she  bade  him  set  Sir  Ewaine  upon  the  path  that  should 
lead  him  to  that  adventure  he  sought.  And  after  that  Sir  sir 
Ewaine  left  the  Lady  Vivien  without  any  further  word  and  y 
he  took  horse  and  departed  thence.  And  that  fair  youth  with  0]** 
the  golden  hair  went  before  Sir  Ewaine  to  the  skirts  of  the 
forest  that  lay  upon  the  other  side  of  the  valley  from  that  side  upoi 


2i6      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

Sir  Ewaine  had  entered  it.  Then  the  youth  showed  Sir  Ewaine  a  certain 
path  that  led  into  the  forest  and  he  said:  "Take  that  path,  fair  lord,  and 
it  will  bring  you  to  your  adventure.'* 

So  Sir  Ewaine  took  the  path  as  the  youth  directed  and  he  travelled 
upon  it  for  an  hour  or  two  and  by  and  by  he  came  to  an  open  place  in  the 
woodland.  And  in  the  midst  of  that  open  place  there  was  a  high  mound  I 
of  earth  covered  with  fair  green  grass  and  many  sheep  browsed  upon  the 
slopes  of  the  mound  and  coadjacent  thereunto.  And  on  the  mound  there 
sat  the  being  of  whom  Sir  Sagramore  had  spoken,  and  Sir  Ewaine  was  amazed 
at  his  hideous  aspect.  For  he  was  of  giant  stature  and  swarthy  black, 
and  his  hair  was  red  as  brick.  His  mouth  gaped  wide  like  a  cavern  and 
the  teeth  within  were  sharp  like  the  teeth  of  a  wild  beast. 

To  this  creature  Sir  Ewaine  spake,  saying,  "Sirrah,  whither  shall  I  go 
to  find  that  Adventure  of  the  Fountain?" 

Upon  this  that  giant  being  laughed  like  the  pealing  of  thunder  and  he 
said:  "Ho!  little  man,  have  you  come  also  to  that  adventure?  The  day 
before  yesterday  one  came  hither  and  sped  but  ill,  and  so  also,  I  doubt  not, 
it  will  fare  with  you.  Take  you  yonder  path,  and  I  believe  you  will  come 
to  that  adventure  all  too  soon  for  your  own  good." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  took  the  path  that  that  being  directed,  and  so  entering 
the  woodlands  again  he  rode  for  a  long  while  through  the  thick  forests. 
Then  after  a  while  he  came  to  a  hill  and  he  ascended  the  hill,  and  when  he 
„.  E  .  had  reached  the  top  thereof  he  found  that  the  forest  ceased 
cometh  to  the  and  that  the  open  country  lay  spread  out  before  him  and  he 
the  beneld  a  fair  and  level  valley  lying  beneath  the  hill.  And  he 
beheld  that  the  valley  was  very  fertile  with  many  fields  and 
plantations  of  fair  trees.  And  Sir  Ewaine  beheld  in  that  valley  a  lake  and 
a  fountain  that  flowed  into  the  lake  and  a  tree  that  overshadowed  the 
fountain,  and  he  wist  that  this  was  the  place  where  Sir  Sagramore  had  met 
with  that  adventure  aforetold  of.  So  straightway  he  rode  down  into  that 
valley  and  toward  that  place  where  was  the  enchanted  fountain  overshad- 
owed by  the  tree.  And  when  he  reached  that  place  he  beheld  the  slab 
of  stone  and  the  silver  bowl  chained  to  the  slab  by  a  silver  chain  just  as 
Sir  Sagramore  had  beheld  those  things. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  took  the  silver  bowl  into  his  hand  and  he  dipped  up 
Sir  Ewaine  water  therein  from  the  fountain,  and  he  flung  the  water  upon 
casteth  water  the  marble  slab  as  Sir  Sagramore  had  done. 

Then  straightway  it  befell  as  it  had  with  Sir  Sagramore,  for 
first  the  earth  began  to  tremble  and  to  quake  and  then  the  sky  began  to 
thunder,  and  then  there  arose  a  great  cloud  that  overspread  the  sky,  so 


SIR  EWAINE  ESSAYETH  THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN  217 

that  it  became  all  black  like  unto  night  time,  although  it  was  still  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day.  Then  there  came  the  great  wind,  the  like  of  which  Sir 
Ewaine  had  never  before  known  in  all  his  life,  for  it  blew  with  such  strength 
of  fury  that  he  was  afraid  it  would  blow  him  away  from  that  place.  Then 
there  fell  such  a  deluge  of  rain  that  he  feared  he  would  be  drowned  there- 
with. And  whilst  the  rain  fell  in  that  wise  he  heard  a  multitude  of  voices 
in  lamentation  as  though  a  great  way  off,  just  as  Sir  Sagramore  had  heard 
these  voices. 

Anon  the  rain  ceased  and  the  clouds  passed  away,  and  the  sun  came 
forth  and  shone  with  wonderful  warmth  and  brightness,  and  thereupon 
a  great  flock  of  small  birds  came  flying  to  that  tree  and  perched  in  the 
branches  thereof  so  that  the  tree  was  entirely  filled  with  the  multitude  of 
feathered  creatures  gathered  there.  And  that  multitude  of  birds  began 
to  sing  in  such  a  wise,  that  when  Sir  Ewaine  listened  to  that  singing  he 
wist  not  whether  he  were  in  paradise  or  upon  earth,  so  sweet  and  piercing 
was  the  melody  of  their  singing.  And  all  these  things  befell  with  Sir 
Ewaine  as  they  had  befallen  aforetime  with  Sir  Sagramore. 

Now,  whilst  Sir  Ewaine  stood  listening  in  that  wise,  all  bewitched  by  the 
singing  of  those  birds,  he  was  aware  of  one  who  came  riding  very  rapidly 
toward  him  across  the  plain.  And  as  that  rider  drew  nigh  unto  Sir  Ewaine, 
he  beheld  that  he  was  a  knight  clad  all  in  black  armor  and  seated  upon  a 
great  charger  which  was  entirely  black  and  which  was  hung  with  trappings 
as  black  as  any  raven.  And  the  knight  bore  a  shield  which  was  altogether 
black  and  without  any  device  whatsoever.  And  he  was  of  a  very  terrible 
appearance,  being  huge  of  form  and  violent  and  fierce  in  his  advance. 

This  black  knight,  when  he  had  come  close  to  that  place  where  Sir 
Ewaine  awaited  him,  cried  out  in  a  great  voice:  "Sir  Knight,  why  didst 
thou  come  hither  to  meddle  with  my  fountain?  Know  thou  that  thou 
hast  brought  a  great  deluge  upon  all  this  land  so  that  thou  hast  wrought 
great  damage  to  us  who  are  the  people  thereof.  But  now  thou  shalt  pay 
very  dearly  for  the  injury  thou  hast  done.  Prepare  thyself  straightway 
for  battle!" 

Unto  this  Sir  Ewaine  made  reply:  "  Sir  Knight,  I  wist  not  that  in  throw- 
ing water  upon  yonder  slab  I  was  doing  injury  to  thee  or  to  any  one.      Nev- 
ertheless, I  am  ready  to  meet  thee  in  battle  as  thou  dost  make  demand. 
Therewith  Sir  Ewaine  dressed  his  shield  and  his  spear  and  took  his  static* 
in  the  meadow  near  the  fountain  and  beside  the  lake,  and  put  h 
such  array  for  defence  as  he  was  able.  ,    . 

So  when  they  both  had  prepared  themselves  in  all  ways  they  let  go 
horses  the  one  against  the  other,  in  very  violent  assault,  rushing  together 


218      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

like  a  whirlwind.  And  so  they  met  together  in  the  midst  of  the  course 
with  an  uproar  as  of  thunder;  the  one  smiting  against  the  other  with 
Sir  Ewaine  sucn  violence  that  the  spear  of  each  was  burst  all  into! 
doeth  battle  pieces  unto  the  very  truncheon  thereof.  And  in  that  assault 
knight  of  the  both  knights  would  assuredly  have  been  overthrown  excepting 
Fountain.  for  ^he  wonderful  address  of  each.  For  each  drave  spur  into  \ 
steed  and  shouted  aloud  so  that  each  charger  recovered  his  feet  and  fell; 
not.  Then  each  knight  threw  away  the  truncheon  of  his  spear  and  each 
drew  his  sword  and  straightway  fell  to  battle  with  might  and  main.  And 
in  that  combat  each  knight  gave  the  other  many  sore  buffets  and,  for  a 
long  while,  no  one  could  have  told  how  that  encounter  was  like 
to  go. 

But  at  last  Sir  Ewaine  waxed  very  furious  with  the  opposition  of  that 
other  knight,  wherefore  he  arose  in  his  stirrups  and  lashed  at  that  black 
knight  such  a  buffet  that  nor  guard  nor  shield  nor  helm  could  withstand 
the  stroke.  For  under  that  blow  the  black  Knight  of  the  Fountain  reeled 
in  his  saddle  as  though  he  would  fall  from  his  horse.  Then  he  drooped  his 
shield  and  hung  his  head  full  low  and  catched  at  the  horn  of  his  saddle  as 
though  to  stay  himself  from  falling.  Herewith  Sir  Ewaine  lashed  another 
buffet  at  him,  and  with  that  blow  the  sword  of  Sir  Ewaine  pierced  through 
the  helmet  of  the  black  knight  and  deep  into  his  brain  pan  and  with  that 
stroke  the  black  knight  received  his  mortal  hurt. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine,  perceiving  that  the  black  knight  was  so  sorely  hurt, 
repented  him  of  what  he  had  done  in  the  heat  of  his  battle  and  stayed  his 
hand,  though  all  too  late.  And  he  cried  out :  "  Sir  Knight,  I  fear  me  that 
I  have  given  thee  a  very  woeful  hurt.  I  repent  me  of  that,  so  yield  thou 
thyself  to  me,  and  forthwith  I  will  look  to  thy  wound  and  will  give  thee 
such  ease  as  I  may." 

But  to  this  the  black  Knight  of  the  Fountain  made  no  reply.  Otherwise 
he  immediately  wheeled  his  horse  about,  and  set  spurs  to  flank,  and  drove 
The  Kni  ht  of  awa^  with  a11  sPeed  from  that  place.  And  so  rapidly  did  he 
the  Fountain"  race  away  from  the  field  of  battle  that  he  appeared  to  fly, 

%£hEw°a?ne.       as    it:    were'    like    to    the    snadow    of    a    bird   across    the 
plain. 

At  first  Sir  Ewaine  was  altogether  amazed  at  the  suddenness  of  the 
flight  of  the  Black  Knight,  but  presently  he  awoke  and  set  spurs  to  his 
Sir  Ewaine  horse  and  sped  away  in  pursuit  as  fast  as  he  could  race  his 
pursueth  the  horse  forward.  And  ever  Sir  Ewaine  pursued  the  Black 
Knight  in  that  wise  and  called  upon  him  to  stay,  and  ever 
the  Black  Knight  fled  all  the  more  rapidly  away  as  though  he  heard  not 


SIR  EWAINE  PURSUETH   THE  KNIGHT  OF   THEt  FOUNTAIN  «9 

the  voice  of  Sir  Ewaiue.     And  ever  though  he  strove,  Sir  Ewaine 
not  reach  the  Black  Knight  in  his  flight. 

Thus  they  sped  as  swift  as  the  wind  across  the  plain,  the  Black  Knieht 
fleeing  and  Sir  Ewaine  pursuing,  and  by  and  by  Sir  Ewaine  was  aware  th- 
they  were  approaching  a  walled  town  and  a  very  tall  and  noble  castle  with 
many  high  towers,  and  steep  roofs  that  overlooked  the  houses  of  the  town 
And  Sir  Ewaine  perceived  that  many  people  were  running  hither  and 
thither  about  the  castle  as  though  in  great  disturbance,  and  that  many 
people  were  upon  the  walls  of  the  town,  watching  the  Black  Knight  and 
him  as  they  drew  nigh.  And  ever  the  knight  rode  toward  the  gate  of  the 
town  and  of  the  castle,  speeding  like  the  wind,  and  ever  Sir  Ewaine  pur- 
sued him  without  being  able  to  overtake  him.  So,  in  a  little  while,  the 
Black  Knight  reached  the  drawbridge  of  the  gate  and  he  thundered  across 
the  drawbridge  and  Sir  Ewaine  thundered  after  him. 

Now  as  the  knight  had  approached  the  gateway  of  the  town  the  port- 
cullis had  been  lifted  for  to  admit  him,  and  so  he  rode  through  the  gate- 
way with  all  speed.  But  when  Sir  Ewaine  would  have  followed,  the  port- 
cullis was  let  fall  for  to  keep  him  without. 

Yet  so  great  was  the  fury  of  Sir  Ewaine's  chase  and  so  closely  did  he 
follow  the  Black  Knight  in  pursuit  that  he  was  within  the  portcullis  as  it 
fell.     And  the  portcullis  fell  upon  the  horse  of  Sir  Ewaine  sir  Ewaine 
and  smote  him  just  behind  the  saddle  and  cut  him  in  twain,   i^^hg 
so  that  the  half  of  the  horse  fell  within  the  portcullis  and  the   portcullis  o] 
other  half  of  the  horse  fell  without  the  castle.     And  so  violent  *" tmvn- 
was  the  blow  of  the  falling  of  the  portcullis,  and  so  sudden  the  fall  of  the 
horse,  that  Sir  Ewaine  was  flung  down  to  the  ground  with  so  dreadful  and 
terrible  a  shock  that  he  lay  in  a  swoon  as  though  he  had  been  killed. 

So  as  Sir  Ewaine  lay  there,  there  came  a  number  of  those  who  were  in 
attendance  at  that  part  of  the  castle.  These  looked  in  through  a  wicket 
of  iron  and  beheld  Sir  Ewaine  where  he  lay  in  that  swoon  in  the^space 
between  the  portcullis  and  the  inner  gate.  So  when  they  beheld  him  ly- 
ing thus  with  the  half  of  his  dead  horse,  they  said:  "  Behold!  yonder  is  the 
man  who  wounded  our  champion  and  who  pursued  him  hither.  Let  him 
lie  where  he  is  until  that  our  champion  tells  us  what  we  shall  do  unto  him. 
For  lo!  he  is  a  prisoner  here  and  cannot  escape  from  our  hands,  and  so  we 
have  it  in  our  power  to  do  with  him  whatsoever  we  please." 

Thus  they  said,  not  knowing  that  even  at  that  time  their  champion  was 
lying  very  nigh  to  death  because  of  the  wound  he  had  receivec 
hands  of  Sir  Ewaine.  « 

So  these  went  away  from  that  place,  leaving  Sir  Ewaine  lying  as  though 


220      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

dead  in  the  swoon  that  his  violent  fall  had  caused  him.  But  after  a  while 
life  came  back  to  him  and  he  opened  his  eyes  and  gazed  about  him,  and 
after  that  he  made  shift  to  arise,  though  with  great  pain.  Then  he  beheld 
that  he  was  a  prisoner  at  that  place,  and  that  he  lay  with  the  half  of  his 
dead  horse  betwixt  the  portcullis  and  the  inner  gate  of  the  castle  so  that 
he  could  neither  get  into  the  castle  nor  out  but  was  there  a  prisoner  like 
to  a  creature  caught  in  a  trap. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  went  to  the  wicket  of  the  inner  gate  and  he  looked 
forth  through  the  iron  bars  of  the  wicket  for  to  see  what  sort  of  a  place  it 
was  into  which  he  had  come.  And  he  beheld  that  within  the  gate  was 
the  street  of  the  town.  And  he  perceived  that  the  street  was  very  steep 
and  that  it  was  cobbled  with  stones.  And  he  beheld  that  the  houses  of 
the  town  that  stood  upon  either  side  of  the  street  were  built  either  of 
brick  or  else  of  stone,  and  that  they  were  fair  and  tall  with  overhanging 
gables  and  with  shining  windows  of  glass  and  roofs  of  bright  red  tiles. 
And  he  beheld  that  there  were  many  booths  and  stores  with  fair  fabrics 
and  merchandise  displayed  for  sale.  And  he  saw  that  there  were  many 
people  in  the  street  but  that  all  they  were  moving  in  one  direction  as  though 
in  great  agitation.  And  as  he  stood,  so  gazing,  he  was  aware  of  a  great 
sound  of  lamentation  that  arose  from  all  parts  of  the  town,  wherefore  he 
thought  that  maybe  the  knight  whom  he  had  chased  thither  must  now 
be  lying  nigh  to  death.  At  that  he  was  much  grieved,  for  not  only  was 
that  a  very  noble  and  valorous  knight,  but  his  death  would  certes  put  Sir 
Ewaine  himself  into  great  jeopardy  as  soon  as  the  people  of  the  castle 
should  come  to  deal  with  him  in  that  place  where  he  was  now  a  prisoner. 

And  now  followeth  the  history  of  the  further  adventures  of  Sir  Ewaine 
as  it  is  told  in  the  books  of  chivalry  that  relate  to  these  happenings,  so  I 
pray  you  to  read  that  which  followeth  if  that  other  which  hath  gone  before 
hath  been  pleasing  to  you. 


Damsel  E  lose  giocffy  a  ring 

toSirEtoaine: 


•vi- 


Chapter   Third 

How  a  damsel,  hight  Elose,  who  was  in  service  with  the  Lady 
Lesolie  of  the  Fountain,  brought  succor  to  Sir  Ewaine  in  his 
captivity. 

SO  Sir  Ewaine  stood  gazing  out  of  the  wicket  of  the  gate  as  aforetold; 
and  he  wist  not  what  to  do  to  save  his  life ;  for  he  knew  he  could  do 
naught  but  wait  there  until  those  who  had  to  deal  with  him  might 
come  to  slay  him. 

Now,  as  he  stood  thuswise  in  great  trouble  of  spirit,  he  was  aware  of  a 
damsel  who  came  thitherward.  And  as  that  damsel  approached,  Sir  Ewaine 
perceived  that  she  was  very  comely  of  appearance,  and  that  she  had  yel- 
low curling  hair  and  it  seemed  to  Sir  Ewaine  that  he  had  hardly  ever  beheld 
a  damsel  more  fair  than  she  who  approached  his  place  of  captivity. 

This  damsel  came  close  to  the  wicket  where  Sir  Ewaine  stood,  and  she 
gazed  upon  his  face  and  her  own  face  was  pitiful  and  kind,  and  neither 
angry  nor  scornful.  Then  Sir  Ewaine,  beholding  that  her  face  was  kind, 
said  to  her:  "  Damsel,  why  do  you  come  to  gaze  thus  upon  a  poor  captive 
who  is  waiting  for  his  death?" 

To  this  the  damsel  made  reply:  "Alas,  Sir  Knight,  I  come  hither  because 
I  take  great  pity  that  a  noble  champion  such  as  you  appear   ^  ^^  ^ 
to  be  should  be  in  so  sad  a  case  as  this.     For  certes  the  peo-   the  Fountain 
pie  of  this  castle  will  come  to  slay  you  in  a  very  little  while."   $£££* 

"Damsel,"  said  Sir  Ewaine,  "thy  pity  is  a  great  comfort 
to  me,  but  it  would  be  a  still  greater  comfort  if  thou  couldst  help  me  to 
escape  from  this  place." 

To  this  the  damsel  made  no  reply.  But  presently  she  said:  "Tell  me, 
Sir  Knight,  why  did  you  do  so  grievous  a  hurt  to  our  knight-champion 
who  was  the  defender  of  this  land  against  those  who  would  meddle  with 
the  fountain  to  bring  a  deluge  upon  our  land.  Wit  you  that  because  of 
the  woeful  buffets  you  gave  him  he  lieth  so  near  to  death  that 
to  die  in  a  few  hours." 


224      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

"  Damsel,"  said  Sir  Ewaine,  "to  tell  you  the  very  truth,  I  meant  not  to 
bring  an  injury  upon  this  land,  neither  did  I  mean  to  visit  so  grievous  a  hurt 
as  I  did  upon  that  good  worthy  knight  your  champion.  But  first  I  en- 
tered upon  this  adventure  because  a  fellow  of  mine  failed  in  it  and  because 
I  deemed  that  it  behooved  me  to  redeem  with  mine  own  hand  the  honor 
he  had  lost  to  your  champion.  As  for  the  hurts  which  he  suffered  at  my 
hand — wit  you  that  when  a  knight  fights  in  battle  with  another  knight, 
as  I  fought  of  late  with  your  champion, '  that  one  knoweth  not  how  hard 
he  smites  until  the  mischief  is  done.  So  it  was  with  me,  and  when  I  smote 
I  smote  in  the  heat  and  the  passion  of  battle.  Then,  when  I  perceived 
that  I  had  hurt  him  so  sorely  I  pursued  your  knight  with  intent  to  help 
him  whom  I  had  so  sadly  hurt.  But  ever  your  knight-champion  fled  away 
from  me,  so  that  at  last  I  pursued  him  in  anger ;  wherefore  I  rushed  into 
this  place  without  thinking,  and  so  am  caught  here  a  helpless  prisoner." 

Then  the  damsel  said,  "  Sir  Knight,  I  pray  you  tell  me  what  is  your  name 
and  your  degree?"  To  the  which  Sir  Ewaine  made  reply:  "My  name  is 
Sir  Ewaine  and  I  am  King  Uriens'  son  of  Gore,  and  my  mother  is  Queen 
Morgana,  surnamed  Le  Fay." 

Now  when  the  damsel  heard  this  announcement  of  the  name  and  the 
degree  of  Sir  Ewaine,  she  made  great  admiration,  crying  out :  "  Is  it  then 
possible  that  so  famous  a  knight  as  thou  art,  and  one  so  renowned  in  all 
the  world  both  of  chivalry  and  of  common  history,  shouldst  be  caught  a 
prisoner  in  this  wise? "  And  she  regarded  Sir  Ewaine  through  the  aperture 
of  the  gate  with  very  great  wonder,  and  by  and  by  she  regarded  him  with 
still  greater  pity.  Then  after  a  little,  she  said:  "  Sir  Knight  Ewaine,  I  take 
great  sorrow  that  so  worthy  a  knight  as  thou  art  shouldst  suffer  harm. 
Now  I  am  of  a  great  mind  for  to  help  thee  if  thou  wilt  do  my  bidding  in  all 
things  that  I  shall  ordain  for  thee  to  do.  For  if  I  release  thee  from  thy 
captivity,  there  are  several  things  I  would  have  thee  do  upon  my  com- 
mandment." 

"Lady,"  said  Sir  Ewaine,  "I  believe  that  you  mean  me  well,  and  I  be- 
lieve that  you  would  not  lay  any  command  upon  me  that  would  be  con- 
trary to  my  knightly  honor  or  my  integrity  as  a  right  knight  of  royal 
blood  to  fulfill."  And  the  damsel  said:  "Take  no  thought  that  I  intend 
ill  faith  against  thee,  Sir  Ewaine,  for  instead  I  am  of  a  mind  to  be  thy 
friend  in  this  affair  if  so  be  thou  wilt  put  thy  trust  in  me." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "Lady,  I  yield  myself  to  your  will,  and  if  you 
will  set  me  free  from  this  captivity  I  will  do  whatsoever  you  ordain  for  me 
to  perform.  But  tell  me,  how  mean  ye  for  to  bring  me  forth  from  this 
peril  unless  you  may  get  the  keys  of  this  gate  from  the  porter  thereof?" 


THE  DAMSEL  ELOSE  SAVETH  SIR  EWAINE  225 

"  Sir,"  said  the  damsel,  "  I  cannot  get  those  keys  but  I  have  another  way 
than  that  to  set  you  free.     For  wit  you  that  though  locks  and  bars  be 
strong,  yet  the  power  of  enchantment  is  still  stronger  than  they."    With 
this  the  damsel  drew  from  her  bosom  a  locket  that  hung  there  by  a  chain 
of  gold,  and  she  opened  the  locket  and  she  brought  forth 
therefrom  a  ring  set  with  a  clear  red  stone  like  to  a  pure  ruby   gweth  succor 
— bright — shining  and  very  brilliant.    And  she  said,  "  See  you  to  sir  Ewaine- 
this  ring?"  and  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Yea."     "Well,  Messire,"  said  she,  "this 
is  a  very  wonderful  ring,  for  it  hath  had  many  potent  spells  set  upon  it  by 
the  magician  Merlin,  who  gave  it  in  days  gone  by  to  my  father,  King  Mag- 
nus of  Leograns.     So  my  father  gave  it  to  me  and  it  is  the  most  precious 
thing  of  all  my  possessions.     For  the  property  of  this  ring  is  of  such  a  sort 
that  if  you  turn  the  stone  inward  upon  your  hand  so  as  to  hide  it  within 
your  palm,  then  you  shall  become  invisible ;  and  if  you  turn  the  stone  out 
upon  your  hand  again,  then  you  shall  become  visible  as  you  were  before. 
Take  this  ring,  Sir  Ewaine,  and  when  you  have  made  yourself  invisible  by 
means  of  it,  then  you  shall  escape  from  your  enemies.    After  you  have 
so  escaped,  come  you  to  the  garden  of  this  castle  and  I  will  be  there.    Do 
you  come  and  lay  your  hand  upon  my  shoulder,  and  then  I  will  know 
you  are  there.     After  that  I  will  then  conduct  you  to  a  certain  apart- 
ment where  you  shall  be  privily  lodged  until  this  present  danger  hath 
passed." 

Therewith  speaking,  the  damsel  gave  the  ring  to  Sir  Ewaine  and  he  took 
it,  giving  her  thanks  beyond  measure  for  her  kindness  to  him.  And  im- 
mediately he  set  the  ring  upon  his  finger  and  turned  the  stone  inward  so  as 
to  hide  it  in  his  palm.  Then  lo!  as  soon  as  he  had  done  that  he  became 
immediately  invisible  to  the  eyes. 

Then  the  damsel  Elose  fled  away  from  that  place,  lest  those  who  wot 
come  to  slay  Sir  Ewaine  should  find  her  there  talking  to  him. 

So,  shortly  after  she  had  gone,  there  came  a  great  party  of  armed  me: 
with  intent  to  slay  Sir  Ewaine,  and  some  of  these  were  armed  anc 
bore  swords  and  guisarms.     These  came  to  the  gate  and  flung  i    open, 
and  rushed  into  the  space  between  it  and  the  portcullis ;  with  a  ^tu- 
mult, for  they  expected  to  find  Sir  Ewaine  there  and  to  slay  him. 
he  was  gone  and  they  beheld  nothing  there  but  the  half  of  his 
and  the  saddle  and  the  bridle  and  the  trappings  thereof, 
neither  sight  nor  sign  of  him  anywhere  to  be  seen.  ^  prisoner 

At  that  they  were  all  amazed  beyond  measure  to      L  F 

gone,  for  they  wist  not  how  he  could  have  escaped  from  that  P^ 
they  raised  a  great  tumult  and  some  cried  out  to  hurry  hither  and 


226      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

to  hurry  thither,  and  in  the  tumult  and  confusion  Sir  Ewaine  passed  out 
from  their  midst  and  none  of  them  were  aware  of  his  going. 

After  that  Sir  Ewaine  went  away  from  that  place  and  into  the  town 
within  the  walls.  And  he  came  to  the  castle  of  the  town  and 
no  one  saw  him  in  his  going.  And  he  entered  the  castle  and 
the  gateway.  tlie  peopie  of  the  castle  saw  him  not. 

So,  invisible  to  all,  Sir  Ewaine  went  to  the  privy  garden  of  the  castle, 
and  he  perceived  that  that  was  a  very  pleasant  place,  with  many  shady 
trees  and  with  plats  of  flowers  and  with  fountains  and  long  straight  walks 
where  the  lady  of  the  castle  might  take  her  pleasure  when 
Ewaine  enter-  she  chose  to  be  out  of  doors.  And  Sir  Ewaine  entered  that 
eth  the  garden  garden  and  he  perceived  that  there  were  several  damsels 
therein  and  that  all  they  were  very  sorrowful  and  downcast 
because  that  the  knight-champion  of  that  place  had  been  slain,  and  sev- 
eral of  them  wept.  But  amongst  these  damsels  was  the  damsel  Elose, 
and  she  alone  of  all  who  were  there  was  cheerful  and  bore  a  smiling  coun- 
tenance. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  went  to  her  and  laid  his  hand  upon  her  shoulder  as  she 
had  bidden  him  to  do,  and  thereupon  she  knew  that  he  was  there  though 
she  could  not  see  him.  So  straightway  she  arose  and  went  forth  from 
out  of  the  garden  and  Sir  Ewaine  followed  her. 

After  that  the  damsel  led  Sir  Ewaine  to  a  certain  part  of  the  castle  and 
up  a  long  flight  of  steps  and  so  brought  him  to  an  apartment  that  was  im- 
mediately beneath  the  eaves  of  a  certain  part  of  the  tower  of  the  castle. 

And  Sir  Ewaine  beheld  that  here  was  a  large  and  noble  apartment  hung 
with  woven  hangings  representing  pictures  of  battle  and  of  court,  and  he 
beheld  that  the  floor  was  spread  with  finely  woven  fabrics  of  divers  sorts. 
And  he  saw  that  there  were  several  large  windows  that  overlooked  the 
streets  of  the  town  and  a  fair  prospect  beyond.  And  the  breeze  blew  into 
those  windows  very  softly  and  pleasantly,  and  great  flocks  of  pigeons  flew 
about  in  the  air  with  noisy  and  clapping  flight,  and  numbers  of  other 
pigeons  strutted  on  the  tiles  of  the  roof  and  bridled  and  cooed  to  each 
other  in  the  red  sunlight  of  the  waning  day.  So  this  was  a  very  pleasant 
place  in  which  to  dwell.  And  the  damsel  said  to  Sir  Ewaine,  "  Here  shall 
you  abide  until  my  further  purpose  is  ripe." 

•fThen  the  damsel  Elose  brought  an  ewer  full  of  tepid  water  and  she  poured 

The  damsel        ^e  water  mto  a  basin,  and  the  ewer  and  the  basin  were  both 

serueth  sir         of  them  of  silver.     And  the  damsel  held  the  basin  and  Sir 

Ewaine  bathed  his  hands  and  his  face,  and  after  that  she  gave 

him  a  large  napkin  of  fine  white  linen  and  he  dried  his  hands  and  his  face 


THE  DAMSEL  ELOSE  TELLETH  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN  22; 
thereon.  So,  when  he  was  thus  refreshed  she  brought  him  food  and  drink 
and  Sir  Ewaine  ate  and  drank  with  much  appetite  and  was  Rreatlv  UDlifted 
in  spirit.  And  by  that  time  the  evening  was  come. 

Now  all  this  while  Sir  Ewaine  was  greatly  astonished  that  the  damsel 
should  be  so  kind  to  him,  wherefore  he  said,  "Damsel,  why  art  thou  so 
kind  to  me? "  To  this  she  made  reply:  "  Messire,  I  have  a  purpose  in  all 
this,  that  by  and  by  and  in  good  season  I  will  unfold  to  thee." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said  to  her:  "  I  pray  you,  fair  damsel,  tell  me  now  the 
mystery  of  that  fountain  and  of  the  knight  who  guarded  it?  For  I  am 
very  curious  to  know  why  there  came  that  quaking  of  the  earth  and  that 
thundering  and  rain  when  I  cast  water  upon  the  slab  beside  the  fountain." 

"Sir,"  said  Elose,  "I  will  tell  you  that  mystery."  And  so  she  did,  as 
f olloweth : 

"You  are  to  know/'  quoth  she,  "that  somewhile  ago  there  was  ap- 
pointed a  joust  at  a  place  not  very  distant  from  this.     And    The  damsel 
to  that  joust  there  went  the  lady  of  this  castle  who  is  hight   Mleth,  Sir 
the  Lady  Lesolie.     Thither  also  went  the  Lady  Vivien,  of  e^^lf 
whom  thou  either  knowest  or  hast  heard  tell,  for  she  is  one   the  i°untain- 
of  the  greatest  and  most  mischievous  enchantresses,  in  all  of  the  world. 

"  At  that  jousting  there  was  one  knight  who  distinguished  himself  above 
all  others,  and  he  was  Sir  Sagron  surnamed  Cceur  de  Per.  For  that  noble 
knight  won  the  battle  of  the  joust,  overthrowing  all  who- came  against  him 
without  once  suffering  defeat  himself.  So  to  him  was  awarded  the  prize 
of  battle,  which  prize  was  a  fillet  of  gold.  This  fillet  the  victor  had  the 
right  to  bestow  upon  the  lady  whom  he  deemed  the  fairest  of  all  who  were 
there. 

"  Now  the  Lady  Vivien  thought  that  she  would  be  chosen  by  whomso- 
ever won  that  prize,  for  that  day  she  had  put  on  all  the  enchantments  of 
beauty  that  she  possessed.  Nevertheless,  and  in  spite  of  these  charms, 
Sir  Sagron  bestowed  the  prize  of  beauty,  not  upon  the  Lady  Vivien,  but 
upon  the  Lady  Lesolie,  who  is  the  countess  of  this  castle  where  we  are. 

"  Now  when  the  Lady  Vivien  saw  that  she  was  passed  over  by  Sir  Sa- 
gron, she  took  great  affront  with  Lady  Lesolie  who  had  been  chosen,  and 
vowed  vengeance  upon  her. 

"  So  afterward  by  her  enchantments  she  had  that  slab  of  stone  laid 
by  the  fountain  and  she  ordained  that  whensoever  any  one  should  cast  tfce 
water  of  the  fountain  upon  the  slab  then  there  would  come  a  great  deluge 
to  this  land.  Thereafter  she  established  herself  not  very  far  distant  from 
this  valley  of  the  fountain,  and  whenever  a  knight  cometh  by  her  castle, 
that  knight  she  sets  upon  the  adventure  of  the  fountain. 


228      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

"  Meantime  Sir  Sagron  had  offered  himself  as  champion  of  the  fountain, 
undertaking  to  defend  it  if  the  Lady  Lesolie  would  upon  her  part  consent  to 
Of  Sir  Sagron  wed  him  and  make  him  lord  of  this  domain.  To  this  the 
of  the  Fountain,  lady  Was  constrained  to  say  yea.  So  it  was  ordained  that  if 
Sir  Sagron  would  defend  the  fountain  without  fail  or  default  for  the  space 
of  a  year  and  a  day,  after  that  time  she  would  give  herself  and  all  her  do- 
main to  him  as  the  lord  thereof.  So  Sir  Sagron  hath  ever  since  defended 
the  fountain  with  great  honor  until  to-day,  when  you  overcame  him  in 
battle,  and  pursued  him  hither  wounded  unto  death.  Had  he  defended 
a  fortnight  longer,  he  had  won  his  suit  with  the  Lady  Lesolie  and  would 
have  been  lord  of  this  land.  But  now  he  will  to-morrow  awake  in  Paradise. 

"  This,  Sir  Ewaine,  is  the  story  of  the  mystery  of  the  fountain,  and  now  I  tell 
thee  I  know  not  who  will  defend  it  unless  haply  it  is  thou  who  wilt  do  so." 

"  Fair  damsel,"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  "  how  may  I  look  to  defend  the  foun- 
tain who  will  immediately  be  slain  if  it  be  known  that  I  am  here?" 

To  this  the  damsel  laughed  and  said:  "Sir  Ewaine,  all  that  may  come 
about  if  fortune  be  with  me  in  these  matters  I  am  about  to  undertake." 

Now  by  this  time  the  darkness  being  come,  the  damsel  lit  two  tapers  of 
perfumed  wax,  and  thereafter  she  conducted  Sir  Ewaine  into  another 
apartment.  There  he  beheld  a  couch,  very  soft  and  comfortable  and 
spread  with  a  coverlet  of  crimson  satin.  And  the  damsel  Elose  said :  "  Sir 
Ewaine,  doubtless  thou  art  aweary.  If  that  be  so,  here  thou  mayst  rest 
thyself  and  be  at  ease."  And  therewith  she  set  down  the  candles  of  wax 
upon  a  table  and  quitted  the  room  and  Sir  Ewaine  was  left  alone. 

And  Sir  Ewaine  was  very  weary,  wherefore  he  laid  aside  his  armor  and 
disrobed  himself  and  laid  himself  down  upon  that  fair  soft  bed  with  great 
joy  of  comfort.  And  straightway  thereafter  he  fell  asleep  as  though  he 
were  a  little  weary  child. 

Now  about  the  twelfth  hour  of  the  night  and  whilst  Sir  Ewaine  lay  thus 
asleep,  he  became  aware  of  a  great  disturbance — the  sound  of  weeping 
and  a  great  outcry  of  lamentation  that  filled  the  entire  silence  of  the  night. 

Anon  came  the  damsel  Elose,  and  she  said:  "Sir  Ewaine,  the  knight  Sir 
Sagron  is  dead  whom  thou  wounded  yesterday,  and  now  they  are  bearing 
him  to  the  church.  Come  and  see!"  So  Sir  Ewaine  arose  quickly  and 
Sir  Ewaine  covered  himself  with  a  cloak,  and  he  went  with  the  damsel 
behoideth  the  to  a  certain  window  that  overlooked  a  street  of  the  town. 
From  that  window  and  beneath  him  he  beheld  a  great  con- 
course of  people  that  filled  the  entire  street.  Many  of  those  were  clad 
in  armor  of  proof  and  others  bare  torches  so  that  the  entire  night  was 
aflame  with  the  light  thereof.  And  there  were  many  women  who  rode 


THE  FUNERAL  OF   THE  KNIGHT  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 
upon  horseback  beside  the  armed  knights.    And  all  of  this  ereat 
of  people  were  crying  out  in  lamentation  so  that  it  was  as 
hollow  beneath  the  space  of  heaven  were  full  of  the  voice  o,  W1CU 

Wl)h^thillamentati°,n  °f  many  V°ices  were  minSled  the  sou^of  tr^S 
and  the  chauntmg  of  priests  and  acolytes  who  recited  the  services  for  the 
dead.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  press  there  was  a  bier,  and  over  the  bier 
there  had  been  spread  a  veil  of  white  linen  and  upon  the  bier  there  lay 
stretched  the  knight-champion  of  that  place  with  his  hands  crossed  upon 
his  sword.  All  about  the  bier  were  many  people  carrying  long  candles  of 
wax,  and  these  also  added  their  lamentation  to  the  voices  of  those  others 
who  lamented. 

Then  when  Sir  Ewaine  beheld  this  spectacle  he  said:  "Woe  is  me,  Elose, 
this  is  surely  a  very  sorry  sight  to  behold!  Now  I  grieve  me  greatly  that 
I  am  the  cause  of  this,  for  I  meant  not  to  slay  that  knight.  Yet  in  the 
heat  of  battle  who  may  stay  the  hand  for  to  measure  the  stroke  that  one 
giveth  to  his  enemy?" 

Then  anon  as  Sir  Ewaine  still  gazed  upon  that  scene,  he  beheld  that  a 
lady  followed  after  the  bier,  and  he  saw  that  her  hair  was  hanging  loose 
and  that  she  was  in  great  disarray.  But  maugre  that,  it 
appeared  to  him  that  she  was  the  most  beautiful  lady  his 
eyes  had  ever  looked  upon.  Then  Sir  Ewaine  said  to  Elose, 

the  Fountain 

who  was  looking  out  of  the  window  beside  him,  "What  fair 
lady  is  that  who  followeth  the  bier  of  the  dead  knight?"    To  the  which 
she  made  answer :  "  That  is  the  lady  of  this  castle,  and  she  is  making  sorrow 
for  the  knight  her  champion  who  is  slain." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  gazed  and  gazed  at  that  lady  for  as  long  as  he  could 
see  her,  and  when  she  had  gone  by,  he  said :  "  Elose,  certes  that  lady  is  the 
most  beautiful  dame  that  ever  mine  eyes  looked  upon.  Now  I  tell  thee 
truly  that  I  do  not  wonder  that  your  knight-champion  was  willing  for  to 
serve  her  for  a  whole  year  with  faithfulness;  for  I  would  willingly  serve 
for  even  a  longer  time  than  that  to  win  her  good  regard." 

At  this  Elose  laughed  with  great  good  will.  "  Is  it  so  with  you,  Sir 
Knight?"  quoth  she,  "and  do  you  then  find  that  your  heart  is  inclined 
toward  this  lady?"  And  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Yea,  it  is  even  so  with  me." 
Elose  said:  "And  wouldst  thou  be  pleased,  Sir  Ewaine,  if  I  could  devise 
it  in  such  wise  that  the  lady  of  this  castle  should  look  kindly  upon  thee? 
And  again  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Yea." 

Then  Elose  smiled  very  cheerfully  upon  Sir  Ewaine  and  she  said:    WeU 
Messire,  let  be  tiU  to-morrow  and  then  we  shall  see  what  that  day  shall 
bring  forth." 


23o      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

So  when  the  next  morning  had  come,  Sir  Ewaine  arose  greatly  refreshed, 
and  by  and  by  Elose  came  to  him  with  food  with  which  to 
break  his  fast.  And  after  he  had  broken  his  fast  she  brought 
Sir  Ewaine  in  a  bowl  of  ivory  with  tepid  water,  and  she  brought  a  razor 
with  a  heft  of  ivory  studded  with  gold,  and  she  hung  a  fine 
linen  towel  upon  her  shoulder  and  she  shaved  Sir  Ewaine  so  that  his  face 
was  both  fresh  and  clean.  After  that  she  brought  him  fine  raiment — an 
undervest  of  soft  cambric  linen  and  a  surcoat  and  hose  of  azure  silk  em- 
broidered with  silver,  and  a  cloak  with  a  clasp  of  gold,  and  with  pears  of 
silver  hanging  from  the  corners  thereof.  And  she  brought  a  circlet  of  gold 
for  his  head,  such  as  became  the  son  of  a  king.  Then  she  looked  upon  Sir 
Ewaine  and  he  was  very  comely. 

After  all  this  had  been  done  in  that  wise,  Elose  left  Sir  Ewaine  and  went 
to  where  was  the  Lady  Lesolie,  and  the  lady  sat  alone  in  her  bower  in 
great  sorrow  that  her  knight-champion  was  dead.  But  Elose  entered  that 
place  with  a  very  cheerful  countenance,  and  she  said,  "  Lady,  what  cheer? " 

Then  the  Lady  Lesolie  looked  upon  Elose  with  great  indignation  be- 
cause of  her  cheerful  aspect,  and  she  said:  "  Damsel,  I  am  much  displeased 
The  Lad  Le  ^hat  ^nou  shouldst  appear  so  cheerful  and  gay  of  spirit  when 
soiie  rebuketh  thou  beholdest  me  in  such  sorrow.  And  I  think  very  ill  of 
thee  that  thou  who  art  the  best  beloved  of  all  my  damsels 
hast  not  come  nigh  me  in  all  this  time  for  to  offer  me  cheer  or  comfort  in 
mine  affliction." 

Now  Elose  was  greatly  in  favor  with  the  Lady  Lesolie  so  that  she  feared 
her  not,  wherefore  she  still  bore  a  very  cheerful  aspect.  And  she  said: 
"  Lady,  I  know  not  wherefore  I  should  take  such  sorrow  as  I  see  the  sorrow 
to  be  that  you  assume  for  Sir  Sagron.  I  did  not  love  him  so  much  that 
I  should  take  more  than  reasonable  grief  when  he  suffered  such  misfortune 
of  battle  as  may  befall  any  knight." 

Then  the  Lady  Lesolie's  eyes  sparkled  very  brightly  with  anger,  and 
she  said:  "  Ha!  Damsel!  Thou  goest  beyond  all  measure  of  the  liberty  of 
speech  which  I  allow  to  thee.  Mayhap  I  loved  not  Sir  Sagron  as  he  would 
have  had  me,  yet  I  honored  him  a  very  great  deal,  and  now  that  he  is  gone 
I  know  not  who  may  defend  the  fountain  in  his  stead.  So,  because  thou 
dost  smile  and  take  cheer  in  this  time  of  trouble,  thy  presence  is  displeasing 
to  me,  wherefore  I  would  have  thee  gone  from  hence." 

Then  Elose  said:  "Very  well,  Lady,  I  will  go  as  thou  hast  bidden  me, 
but  I  think  thou  wilt  be  sorry  that  thou  didst  not  talk  more  with  me  and 
that  thou  dost  not  inquire  of  me  why  I  appear  so  cheerful  as  I  do." 

Therewith  Elose  turned  as  though  to  go  forth  from  that  place.     But 


ELOSE  BESPEAKETH   THE  LADY  LESOLIE 

after  she  had  gone  a  little  distance,  the  Lady  Lesolie  arose  and  followed 
her  to  the  door  of  the  chamber  and  began  coughing  very  softly  Then 
when  Elose  turned,  the  lady  beckoned  to  her  and  said,  "Come  hither!" 
and  Elose  laughed  and  came.  Then  the  lady  said:  "Thou  art  very  saucy 
of  disposition,  but  nevertheless  I  love  thee  more  than  thou  deservest 
Now  tell  me  what  it  is  that  thou  hast  upon  thy  mind." 

Then  Elose  said,  "  I  will  tell  thee,  but  it  must  be  where  none  may  hear  " 

The  lady  said,  "Come  hither,  then,"  and  therewith  she  led  Elose  into' a 
place  where  they  were  altogether  by  themselves,  and  when  they  were 
come  there  the  Lady  Lesolie  said,  "What  is  it,  Elose?" 

Then  Elose  said:  "  Lady,  there  is  in  this  castle  a  knight  who  loveth  thee 
a  very  great  deal,  and  this  knight  is  exceedingly  noble  and  of  very  great 
skill  at  arms,  and  he  is  a  king's  son,  and  he  is  a  knight  of   Thedamsel 
King  Arthur's  court,  and  he  is  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table.    bespeaSthe 
So  great  is  the  love  of  this  knight  for  thee  that  thou  mightest   Lady  Le3olie' 
demand  anything  of  him.     Now  it  appear eth  to  me  that  since  thou  hast 
lost  the  knight  who  was  our  champion,  thou  wouldst  do  well  to  call  upon 
this  knight  to  defend  thee.     And  if  in  good  time  thou  shouldest  choose 
him  for  thy  lord,  then  it  would  be  much  to  thy  pride  and  greatly  to  the 
joy  of  this  land." 

Now  all  this  while  the  lady  had  been  regarding  Elose  very  steadfastly, 
and  when  the  maiden  ended  she  said:  "  Who  is  this  knight,  and  what  is  his 
name  and  his  degree? "  Elose  said:  "  Lady,  thou  hast  heard  of  him  a  great 
many  times,  for  he  is  Sir  Ewaine,  the  son  of  King  Uriens  of  Gore  and  of 
Queen  Morgana  le  Fay.'*  Then  the  lady  said  in  a  very  strange  voice: 
"  Elose,  it  is  wonderful  that  a  knight  so  famous  as  this  should  have  been 
in  our  castle  and  yet  we  knew  nothing  thereof.  Now  tell  me,  when  was 
it  he  came  hither?"  Then  Elose  was  confused  and  said:  "Lady,  he  hath 
only  been  here  a  little  while,  for  he  did  but  come  this  morning." 

Then  the  Lady  Lesolie  smiled  very  curiously,  and  she  said:  "Bring  that 
knight  hither,  that  I  may  see  him  and  speak  with  him."  Then  straight- 
way Elose  went  to  where  Sir  Ewaine  was.  And  Elose  said:  "  Sir  Ewaine, 
arise  and  come  with  me,  for  my  lady  would  have  speech  with  thee." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  arose  and  went  forth  with  Elose,  and  Elose  brought  him 
to  where  the  Lady  Lesolie  was.     And  Elose  introduced  Sir  Ewaine  to  the 
Lady  Lesolie,  and  Sir  Ewaine  paid  great  homage  to  her  for  he  beheld  that 
she  was  very  wonderfully  beautiful.      The  lady  looked  at  Sir  Ewain 
very  steadily,  and  by  and  by  she  said,  "Elose,  this  knight  hath  not  th 
appearance  of  one  who  is  a  traveller  new  arrived  from  a  journey;  r 
he  appeareth  like  one  who  is  fresh  and  well-bedight." 


232      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

Then  at  first  Elose  was  confused  and  wist  not  where  to  look.  Then 
presently  the  lady  said:  "Elose,  I  believe  this  was  the  knight  who  slew 
Sir  Sagron." 

Then  Elose  looked  very  steadily  into  the  lady's  face,  and  anon  she 
spake  boldly  and  without  fear,  and  she  said:  "Well,  lady,  what  then? 
So  much  the  better  for  thee  if  this  knight  overcame  Sir  Sagron,  who  was 
the  best  knight  in  all  this  land.  For  if  this  knight  overcame  Sir  Sagron, 
then  is  he  better  than  Sir  Sagron,  and  so  he  is  better  to  be  the  defender 
of  the  Fountain." 

Then  the  lady  said  :  "  Say  no  more,  but  go  ye  both  away  until  I  medi- 
tate upon  this  for  a  while."  And  thereupon  Elose  and  Sir  Ewaine  quitted 
the  apartment  of  the  lady  and  went  away  to  another  part  of  the  castle. 

After  that  they  waited  for  word  to  come  to  them  from  the  lady  of  the 
castle,  yet  no  word  came  for  a  long  while.  But  when  the  evening  had 
come,  the  chatelaine  sent  a  very  courteous  message  to  Sir  Ewaine  that  it 
The  damsel  would  pleasure  her  to  have  him  sup  with  her.  So  Sir  Ewaine 
bringeth  sir  went  upon  that  command,  and  the  lady  received  him  very 


Lady  onhe  graciously  and  made  place  for  him  beside  her  at  the  table, 
Fountain.  an(~[  ^ey  sa^  an(^  a^e  an(j  drank  together  and  talked  of  many 
things  of  court  and  field.  And  ever  as  they  talked  together  the  Lady 
Lesolie  regarded  Sir  Ewaine  very  closely,  and  she  perceived  that  he  was 
very  noble  and  haughty  of  appearance,  and  she  wist  that  he  was  greater 
champion  than  she  had  ever  beheld  before. 

Then,  by  and  by,  she  said  of  a  sudden  to  Sir  Ewaine:  "Messire,  dost 
thou  not  think  thou  didst  very  ill  to  come  hitherward  to  the  destruction 
of  our  peace?" 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  spake  very  boldly,  saying:  "Lady,  I  am  very  sorry  to 
have  caused  thee  grief,  but  I  did  only  as  any  knight-adventurer  would  do, 
taking  my  chance  of  battle  and  of  death  with  him  as  he  took  his  chance 
with  me.  Yet  now  that  the  chance  of  war  hath  brought  me  hither,  I  can- 
not repent  me  of  anything  that  hath  befallen  me.  For  that  chance  hath 
brought  me  into  thy  presence  and  hath  made  me  acquainted  with  thee." 
Then  the  lady  said:  "Well,  Messire,  what  am  I  to  do  now  that  thou  hast 
slain  the  knight-champion  of  this  place?"  To  the  which  Sir  Ewaine  made 
reply:  "  Lady,  if  thou  wilt  take  me  for  thy  champion,  I  will  serve  thee  very 
.  faithfully  and  will  ask  no  guerdon  from  thee.  For  I  know 
promisetk  to  of  no  greater  joy  that  could  befall  me  than  to  be  thy  chosen 
champion."  Then  the  Lady  Lesolie  smiled  and  said:  "Sir 
Ewaine,  thou  speakest  very  well,  and  I  believe  that  thy  deeds 
are  every  whit  as  trustworthy  as  thy  words.  So  I  will  accept  thee  as  my 


SIR  EWAINE  RETURNETH   TO   THE  KING'S  COURT  233 

champion  to  do  combat  in  my  behalf  and  to  protect  my  fountain  and  my- 
self for  a  year  and  a  day.  If  by  the  end  of  that  time  thou  hast  proved 
thyself  to  be  entirely  faithful,  then  I  will  consider  anything  else  that  thou 
mayst  have  to  say  to  me." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  abided  at  that  place  and  he  defended  the  Fountain  so 
well  that  no  one  came  thither  to  assail  it  who  was  not  overthrown,,  and 
from  all  whom  he  thus  overthrew,  Sir  Ewaine  took  horse  and  shield  and 
sent  them  away  from  that  place  afoot. 

And  Sir  Ewaine  dwelt  in  the  Valley  of  the  Fountain  for  nigh  a  year, 
and  in  that  time  he  and  the  Lady  Lesolie  of  the  Fountain  were  betrothed 
to  one  another  with  intent  to  be  wedded  when  the  year  was  ended.  And 
ever  Sir  Ewaine  loved  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain  more  and  more,  and  ever 
she  loved  him  more  and  more. 

Yet  oftentimes  Sir  Ewaine  bethought  him  of  the  King's  court  and  of 
his  friends  thereat  and  at  those  times  he  would  long  for  them  with  a  very 
great  passion  of  desire.  So  it  befell  upon  a  day  that  Sir  Ewaine  and  the 
Lady  Lesolie  were  in  the  garden  of  the  castle  and  Sir  Ewaine  sat  sunk  in 
deep  and  silent  thought  concerning  those  friends  and  that  court.  And 
meanwhile  the  lady  watched  him  askance.  Then  by  and  by  she  said: 
"  What  is  it  that  lieth  upon  thy  mind,  Messire,  that  causeth  thee  to  take 
so  much  thought  to  thyself?" 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  aroused  himself  and  said:  "Lady,  it  is  that  I  think 
much  of  my  friends  and  companions  of  the  court  of  King 
Arthur.     For  now  nigh  to  a  year  hath  passed  and  in  all  of 
that  time  I  have  heard  no  single  word  of  any  of  them."  j*J  <™£  °f 

Then  the  Lady  Lesolie  said,  "Ewaine,  art  thou  discontent 
with  us  at  this  place?"  He  said:  "Nay,  lady,  thou  knowest  I  am  very 
well  content  and  more  than  well  content  to  be  thus  forever  with  thee.  Yet 
ne'theless  I  would  that  I  might  have  word  of  my  companions,  for  I  know 
not  how  it  fareth  with  them.  And  furthermore,  I  would  fain  know  whether 
they  who  went  in  quest  of  Sir  Launcelot  with  me  have  yet  heard  anything 
of  that  noble  and  worthy  champion." 

Then  the  Lady  Lesolie  said :  "  Ah,  Ewaine,  I  fear  me  that  thou  thinkest 
so  much  of  thy  friends  that  thou  wilt,  in  a  little  while,  be  discontent  to 
remain  with  us  any  longer."  To  which  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "Lady,  thou 
knowest  very  well  that  that  could  never  be."  And  she  said,  "Art  thou 
sure  of  that?"  "Yea,"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  "  I  am  well  assured  of  it." 

Then  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain  said:  "Ewaine,  I  have  it  in  my  mind 
that  thou  shalt  go  and  visit  thy  friends  at  the  court  of  the  great  king. 


234      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

For  after  thou  hast  seen  them  and  hast  satisfied  thyself,  I  believe  that 
thou  wilt  be  better  content  to  be  here.  So  I  lay  it  as  my  command  upon 
thee  that  thou  shalt  go  to  Camelot,  and  have  converse  once  again  with 
thy  friends  and  companions.  Yet  I  would  not  have  thee  remain  too  long 
away  from  us,  wherefore  I  lay  it  as  a  further  injunction  upon  thee  that 
thou  shalt  return  hither  as  soon  as  possible,  for  we  can  ill  spare  our  cham- 
pion who  is  so  dear  to  us." 


La&y  of  itjc  Fountain: 


Chapter  Fourth 


How  Sir  Ewaine  returned  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  how 
he  forgot  the  Lady  Lesolie  and  his  duty  to  the  Fountain. 

SO  it  came  about  that  the  day  after  that  day,  Sir  Ewaine  took  horse 
and  departed  from  the  Valley  of  the  Fountain  as  the  Lady  Lesolie 
had  commanded  him  to  do;  and  he  travelled  alone,  going  from 
that  place  in  the  same  manner  that  he  had  come  thither. 

Now  as  he  went  upon  his  way  in  return  to  Camelot  he  must  needs  travel 
upon  that  same  road  by  which  he  came  thitherward.  So  by  and  by  he 
again  beheld  that  huge  herdsman  oaf  who  sat  upon  the  mound  as  aforetold 
of,  guarding  his  cattle.  When  this  being  beheld  Sir  Ewaine  he  shouted 
to  him  aloud  in  a  great  voice,  "Hello,  little  man!  Whither  goest  thou?" 
But  to  him  Sir  Ewaine  made  no  reply,  but  rode  steadfastly  upon  his  way. 

Anon,  and  about  the  hour  of  noon,  he  came  to  within  sight  of  that  won- 
derful valley  wherein  stood  the  enchanted  castle  of  the  Lady  Vivien.  And 
Sir  Ewaine  rode  down  into  the  valley  and  toward  the  castle,  and  as  he  drew 
nigh  they  of  the  castle  were  aware  of  his  coming  from  afar. 

So  it  was  that  as  Sir  Ewaine  came  nigh  to  the  castle  there  issued  forth 
a  multitude  of  people,  who  approached  him  singing  and  making  joy  and 
giving  him  great  voice  of  welcome.  For  ever  they  cried  aloud:  "  Welcome, 
0  noble  champion!  Welcome!  And  welcome  still  again !" 

So  they  met  him  and  brought  him  as  it  were  in  triumph  to  the  castle, 
and  when  he  had  come  nigh  thereunto  the  Lady  Vivien  her-    sir  Ewaine 
self  came  forth  to  add  her  welcome  to  his  coming.     And  she   cometh  to  the 
wore  a  very  smiling  and  cheerful  countenance,  and  she  also 
cried,  as  did  the  others,  "Welcome,  Sir  Ewaine!    Welcome!    Thrice  wel- 
come!" and  she  said:  "Messire,  I  well  know  that  thou  didst  come  forth 
victorious  from  that  adventure  which  thou  didst  undertake  against  the 
Knight  of  the  Fountain,  wherefore  it  is  that  I  am  rejoiced  to  see  thee.     For, 
as  thou  already,  must  know,  I  bore  no  very  high  regard  for  that  knight 
whom  thou  didst  overthrow." 


238      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

Now  Sir  Ewaine  was  very  well  pleased  with  the  welcome  he  found  at 
that  place,  for  he  did  not  suspect  that  the  Lady  Vivien,  who  smiled  so 
kindly  upon  him,  nourished  any  thought  of  mischief  against  him.  Where- 
fore he  suffered  them  all  to  bear  him  into  the  castle  in  triumph  and  to  re- 
lieve him  of  his  armor  and  to  bring  him  to  a  bath  and  to  fit  him  with  fine 
soft  raiment  wherewith  he  might  with  a  good  appearance  come  before  the 
Lady  Vivien  in  her  bower. 

After  that  Sir  Ewaine  went  to  where  that  lady  was,  and  he  sat  with  her 
and  talked  in  great  amity  with  her.  Yet  he  knew  not  that  all  that  while 
he  talked  with  her  she  was  planning  mischief  against  him.  So  by  and  by, 
still  in  great  amity,  they  went  to  a  place  where  a  noble  feast  was  prepared, 
and  there  Sir  Ewaine  sat  beside  the  Lady  Vivien  with  great  pleasure  in 
being  thus  near  to  her.  Then,  after  a  while,  having  in  mind  those  several 
mischiefs  she  had  planned  against  the  knights  of  King  Arthur  and  of  the 
Round  Table,  he  said  to  her:  "  Lady,  you  who  are  so  kind  and  fair  to  me, 
I  know  not  why  you  do  mischief  against  those  others,  my  companions,  who 
are  of  King  Arthur's  court ;  and  I  know  not  why  you  do  mischief  against 
the  Lady  Lesolie  of  the  Fountain  so  as  to  bring  trouble  upon  that  land. 
She  hath  done  you  no  ill  that  you  should  so  practise  evil  against  her." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien  assumed  an  appearance  of  great  meekness  and 
contrition,  and  she  said :  "  Messire,  what  you  say  is  true,  and  I  repent  me 
of  all  those  evil  things  which  I  have  done."  And  she  said:  "Would  it 
pleasure  you  if  all  enchantment  should  be  removed  from  that  fountain, 
and  if  the  land  of  the  fountain  should  be  left  at  peace?"  Sir  Ewaine 
said,  "Lady,  it  would  pleasure  me  beyond  measure."  Then  the  Lady 
Vivien  said :  "  So  it  shall  be,  and  I  promise  you  very  faithfully  that  that 
enchantment  shall  be  entirely  removed  from  that  land  this  very  day  for- 
ward unto  all  time."  Then  she  looked  upon  Sir  Ewaine  and  smiled  upon 
him  in  such  wise  that  he  was  bewitched  with  her  smiling,  and  she  said, 
"Sir  Ewaine,  let  there  be  peace  betwixt  us  from  this  time  forth  for  aye!" 
and  he  said,  "  Lady,  God  knows  I  bear  you  no  ill  will  and  so  there  is  peace 
betwixt  us." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien  said,  "Sir,  I  would  that  thou  wouldst  accept  a 
pledge  of  peace  from  me."  And  he  said,  "What  is  that  pledge?"  Quoth 
she,  "I  will  show  thee." 

The  Lady  Thereupon   saying,  she  smote  her  hands  together,  and  in 

Istr^aine*1  answer  ^eTQ  came  a  fair  young  page  clad  in  cloth  of  gold  and 
the  ring  of  with  long,  curling  ringlets  of  golden  hair  hanging  down  upon 
for  get  fulness.  fas  shoulders.  To  this  youth  the  lady  gave  sundry  commands, 
and  he  departed,  returning  anon  bearing  in  his  hands  a  patten  of  gold 


SIR  EWAINE   TALKETH   WITH   THE  LADY   VIVIEN  239 

and  upon  the  patten  was  a  fair  white  napkin  of  fine  linen,  and  upon  the 
napkin  a  ring  of  gold  very  cunningly  wrought,  and  inset  with  a  bright  shin- 
ing yellow  stone.  These  the  fair  young  page  brought  to  the  Lady  Vivien, 
kneeling  upon  one  knee,  and  she  took  the  ring  from  the  patten  and  gave 
it  to  Sir  Ewaine,  saying:  "Sir,  behold  this  ring!  This  I  give  to  thee  to 
wear  as  a  pledge  of  the  amity  that  lieth  betwixt  us."  Therewith  Sir 
Ewaine  took  the  ring  and  set  it  upon  his  finger. 

Now  that  ring  was  enchanted  with  very  potent  spells.  For  it  was  a 
ring  of  forgetfulness,  so  that  whosoever  wore  it,  that  person  would  forget 
whatever  the  Lady  Vivien  would  have  him  disremember. 

So  when  Sir  Ewaine  set  the  ring  upon  his  finger,  that  moment  he  forgot 
all  about  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain.     And  he  forgot  all  the  pledges  that 
had  passed  betwixt  himself  and  that  lady,  and  he  forgot  all   sir  Ewaine 
the  other  things  that  belonged  to  that  part  of  his  life.     But    forgetteth  the 
all  else  he  remembered :  to  wit,  how  he  had  undertaken  that    Lady  Lesolie- 
Adventure  of  the  Fountain,  and  how  he  had  overthrown  the  knight-cham- 
pion of  the  Fountain  and  all  other  parts  of  his  life. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  looked  at  the  Lady  Vivien  very  strangely,  like  to  one 
who  is  newly  awakened  from  a  sleep,  and  he  said,  "What  is  it  we  were 
speaking  of  anon?"  And  at  that  the  Lady  Vivien  laughed  and  said,  "  Sir, 
it  matters  not."  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Meseems  I  have  had  a  dream,  but  I 
cannot  remember  what  it  was";  and  then  the  Lady  Vivien  laughed  again 
and  said,  "Neither  does  it  matter  what  was  thy  dream."  And  she  said: 
"  It  only  matters  that  we  are  friends,  and  that  thou  wearest  my  pledge  of 
amity  upon  thy  hand.  Now  I  prithee  never  remove  that  ring  from  thy 
finger,  for  from  that  moment  the  friendship  that  now  exists  shall  cease 
betwixt  us."  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "This  ring  shall  remain  upon  my  finger 
for  aye,  and  I  shall  never  take  it  from  my  finger  even  for  a  single  moment." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  rested  with  great  pleasure  for  that  night  at  the  castle 
of  the  Lady  Vivien,  and,  when  the  next  morning  was  come,  he  departed 
from  the  castle,  betaking  his  way  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur. 

For  he  said  to  himself :  "  Haply  by  this  time  they  have  some  news  of  Sir 
Launcelot.  So  I  will  straightway  return  to  the  court  of  the  King  and 
learn  if  that  be  so." 

Now  Sir  Ewaine,  because  he  had  forgotten  all  about  his  life  at  the  Valley 
of  the  Fountain,  had  no  thought  that  he  had  been  gone  from    ^  Ewaine 
that  court  for  a  longer  time  than  a  fortnight,  wherefore  when    returneth  to 
he  was  come  amongst  his  friends  again  and  when  he  found 
that  well-nigh  a  year  had  passed,  he  knew  not  what  to  think. 
"How  is  this,"  he  said,  "and  what  hath  befallen  me?     Surely  there  was 


240      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

something  that  was  like  to  a  dream  that  I  cannot  remember.  What  is  it 
that  hath  happened  to  me?  I  know  not  what  it  is."  So  Sir  Ewaine  was 
ashamed  that  he  should  not  be  able  to  remember  what  had  happened  to 
him  for  the  year  that  had  passed,  wherefore  he  held  his  peace  and  said 
nothing  concerning  the  matter.  But  ever  Sir  Ewaine  feared  lest  he  should 
betray  to  his  friends  that  he  had  forgotten  a  whole  year  of  his  life.  So  it 
was  he  said  to  himself:  "After  that  I  have  rested  a  little  here  at  the  court 
of  the  King  I  will  set  forth  again  in  quest  of  news  of  Sir  Launcelot.  For 
maybe  by  and  by  I  may  be  able  to  remember  what  I  have  forgotten  of 
this  year  that  hath  passed." 

But  Sir  Ewaine  did  not  immediately  depart  from  the  court,  and  so  it 
King  Arthur  chanced  upon  a  certain  day,  the  weather  being  very  pleasant, 
rideth  afield.  King  Arthur  went  afield  with  certain  of  his  court  and  Sir 
Ewaine  was  one  of  those.  That  time  it  was  early  summer  weather,  and 
the  breezes  were  soft  and  balmy,  and  full  of  the  odor  of  growing  things. 
So  when  the  heat  of  the  day  was  come  the  King  ordained  that  a  pavilion 
should  be  erected  at  a  certain  spot  that  pleased  him  very  well,  and  he  and 
the  Queen  and  their  courts  sat  in  that  pavilion  at  a  fair  feast  which  the 
attendants  of  the  court  had  prepared  for  them. 

Now  whilst  they  so  sat,  there  came  of  a  sudden  a  bustle  and  a  sound 
of  several  voices  talking  without,  and  anon  there  came  into  the  pavilion 
a  damsel  very  fair  of  face  and  with  curling  yellow  hair.  And 
damsel  to  the  the  damsel  was  clad  in  garments  of  yellow  silk  and  she  wore 
a  fr°ntlet  of  gold  upon  her  head,  and  she  wore  shoes  of  varie- 
gated leather  with  latchets  of  gold  upon  her  feet.  And  she 
was  further  adorned  with  necklaces  of  gold  and  with  armlets  of  gold, 
wherefore  they  who  sat  there  were  astonished  at  the  beauty  of  the  damsel 
and  at  the  suddenness  of  her  coming. 

(Now  you  are  to  know  that  maiden  was  the  damsel  Elose,  and  yet  Sir 
Ewaine  knew  her  not  because  of  the  ring  of  forgetfulness  which  he  wore.) 

Then  King  Arthur  arose  where  he  sat,  and  he  said:  "Fair  demoiselle, 
whence  come  you  and  what  would  you  here?  Tell  us,  I  pray,  who  are 
you  who  cometh  hither  like  to  a  fair  vision  from  a  dream." 

Yet  ever  the  damsel  stood  within  the  door  of  the  pavilion,  and  because 
of  the  dazzling  brightness  of  the  sunlight  whence  she  had  come  she  could 
not  at  first  see  very  well  within  the  shadow  of  the  tent.  So  she  said,  "  I 
pray  you  tell  me,  is  Sir  Ewaine  at  this  place?" 

To  that  King  Arthur,  much  wondering,  said,  "Yea,  lady,  yonder  he 
sits,"  and  thereupon  the  damsel  Elose  beheld  Sir  Ewaine  where  he 
was. 


THE  DAMSEL  ELOSE  SMITETH  SIR  EWAINE  241 

Then  Elose  entered  farther  into  the  pavilion  and  came  to  where  Sir 
Ewaine  sat.     Her  eyes  shone  very  bright  with  anger,  and 
she  said:  "Sir  Ewaine,  I  denounce  thee  as  a  false  knight  and   Eiase 


a  traitor!" 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  looked  upon  the  damsel  with  great  astonish- 
ment, and  said,    "Who  art  thou,  lady,  who  dost  accuse  me  of  being 
false?" 

Upon  that  the  damsel  cried  out  in  a  very  shrill  voice,  "Thou  knowest 
very  well  who  I  am!  " 

But  ever  Sir  Ewaine  looked  very  steadily  at  her  and  almost  he  remem- 
bered her,  but  he  could  not  quite  remember  her  because  of  that  ring  which 
he  wore.  Wherefore  he  said,  "  Nay,  I  know  thee  not." 

Then  Elose  smiled  upon  Sir  Ewaine  very  bitterly,  and  she  said  :  "  Thou 
didst  not  forget  me  when  thou  didst  lay  in  peril  of  thy  life  in  the  Castle 
of  the  Fountain  ;  but  now  that  thou  art  enjoying  thyself  with  thy  fellows, 
it  pleases  thee  to  forget  so  poor  an  one  as  I,  who  preserved  thy  life  for 
thee.  But  that  I  could  forgive  thee  if  the  need  were  to  forgive  it;  yet  I 
cannot  forgive  thee  that  thou  hast  also  forgotten  that  dear  lady,  my  mis- 
tress, unto  whom  thou  didst  pledge  thy  faith,  and  unto  whom  thou  art 
bound  in  fealty.  Messire,  thou  hast  a  very  short  memory." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  cried  out  in  an  exceedingly  bitter  voice  like  one 
in  great  pain:  "Lady,  why  say  ye  these  things  to  me?  I  know  you 
not." 

Then  Elose  came  very  close  to  Sir  Ewaine  and  she  took  his  hand,  and 
she  said,  "  Do  you  not  know  me  now?  "  He  said,  "  Nay,  I  know  thee  not." 
Upon  that  the  damsel  raised  her  right  hand  with  her  glove  in  it,  and  she 
smote  Sir  Ewaine  upon  the  face  with  the  glove  so  that  the  mark  of  her 
glove  lay  upon  his  cheek.  And  Sir  Ewaine  made  no  defence  against  her 
assault,  but  ever  he  gazed  very  steadfastly  at  her,  and  he  said  very  bitterly  : 
"Lady,  if  thou  wert  a  knight,  thou  wouldst  not  dare  to  do  that  to  me, 
for  either  thou  wouldst  pay  for  that  blow  with  thy  life,  or  else  I  would 
wipe  out  the  disgrace  thereof  with  mine  own  blood." 

But  Elose  laughed,  and  she  went  out  from  that  pavilion  and  mounted 
her  horse  and  rode  away,  leaving  Sir  Ewaine  with  his  head  bowed  full  low 
upon  his  breast  as  though  he  had  been  struck  a  mortal  blow. 

Then  after  the  damsel  had  gone,  King  Arthur  said,  "  Ewaine,  who  was 
that  lady?  "  And  at  that  Sir  Ewaine  lifted  his  head  and  cried  out  with  great 
vehemence:  "Sire,  I  know  her  not;  nor  can  I  remember  that  I  have  ever 
seen  her  before." 

At  that  King  Arthur  was  silent  and  all  those  who  were  there  looked 


242      STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

askance  at  Sir  Ewaine  and  whispered  together  concerning  those  things 
that  had  happened.  And  Sir  Ewaine  was  aware  of  how  they  regarded 
him  and  how  they  whispered  together,  yet  he  heeded  them  not,  but 
ever  sat  with  his  head  bowed  low  with  shame  and  humiliation.  And 
ever  he  strove  to  remember  who  that  damsel  was,  but  could  not  re- 
member. 

So  after  that  time  there  was  much  talk  amongst  those  at  the  court  con- 
cerning that  which  had  befallen  in  the  King's  pavilion.  And  many  of 
them  said  to  one  another:  "How  is  it  possible  for  a  knight  of  honor  and 
of  repute  thus  to  forget  one  who  had  saved  his  life?  And 
court  iTadoubt  if  he  did  indeed  remember  her,  what  of  honor  hath  he  who 
concerning  would  deny  her  before  those  who  know  him?" 

So  those  of  the  court  spake  together,  and  Sir  Ewaine  was 
aware  that  they  regarded  him  with  disfavor  and  he  was  hurt  to  the  quick  by 
that  knowledge.  So  one  day  he  came  to  King  Arthur  where  he  was,  and  he 
said :  "  Lord,  I  am  aware  that  I  am  held  in  disrepute  in  this  court.  Now 
I  crave  thy  leave  to  depart  from  hence  at  least  for  a  season."  And  King 
Arthur  said:  "Messire,  I  will  not  deny  that  many  things  displeasing  to 
me  are  said  concerning  thee.  So  if  it  be  that  thou  art  of  a  mind  to  quit 
us  for  a  while  until  thou  art  able  to  approve  thy  truth  and  thy  honor, 
and  until  thou  hast  disproved  these  things  which  thy  calumniators 
say  against  thee,  thou  hast  my  fair  leave  to  depart  according  to  thy 
request." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  took  his  departure  from  court,  and  his  heart  was  filled 

Sir  Ewaine        w^k  Bitterness  and  anger  toward  those  who  were  one  time 

departeth  from    his  friends.    For  he  ever  said  to  himself:  "  Why  is  it  that  they 

should  contemn  me  because  I  cannot  remember  that  which 

I  have  forgot?     For  I  cannot  remember  me  of  that  damsel." 

Thus  he  rode  upon  his  way  in  great  bitterness  of  spirit  and  with  anger 
toward  all  the  world,  because  that  all  the  world  appeared  to  be  set  against 
him. 

Now  Sir  Ewaine  journeyed  for  a  long  time  he  knew  not  whither,  for  he 
travelled  somewhiles  like  to  one  in  a  dream. 

So  it  befell  one  day  that  he  came  to  a  thick  woodland  of  great  extent, 
and  there  night  overtook  him  and  he  wist  not  where  he  was  nor  how  he 
should  be  able  to  come  out  of  that  wilderness.  And  whilst  he  was  travel- 
ling thus  in  darkness  and  perplexity,  he  was  suddenly  aware  of  a  light 
shining  at  a  distance,  and  he  followed  that  light  until  he  came  to  a  rude 
hut  of  the  forest,  which  same  stood  in  an  open  glade  of  no  very  great  ex- 


SIR   EWAINE  LODGETH  IN  A   DEN  OF   THIEVES  243 

tent.     To  this  forest  habitation  came  Sir  Ewaine,  and  he  smote  upon  the 
door  thereof  with  the  butt  of  his  spear  and  anon  came  one 

ow  li/watnc 

and  opened  the  door,  and  that  one  was  an  ancient  and  grisly   cometh  to  a 
beldame   of   a   most   repulsive   and   forbidding   appearance.    lonely hut- 
When  she  beheld  Sir  Ewaine  before  her  at  the  door  of  the  hut  she  would 
have  shut  the  door  again,  but  he  would  not  let  her  do  so,  but  thrust  his 
spear  into  the  opening  of  the  door  so  that  she  could  not  close  it. 

Then  that  beldame,  finding  that  he  would  not  be  denied,  spake  to  him 
very  harshly,  saying,  "What  would  you  here,  Sir  Knight?"  Sir  Ewaine 
said,  "  I  would  have  lodging  for  the  night." 

Then  the  hag  laughed  very  loud  and  shrill,  and  she  said:  "Well,  since 
thou  wilt  not  be  denied,  thou  shalt  have  thy  desire.  Enter,  and  may 
thy  lodging  be  for  long." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  dismounted  from  his  horse,  and  turned  it  loose  to  graze 
upon  the  grass  by  night.  Meantime  he  himself  entered  the  hut. 

Here  he  beheld  a  great  fire  burning,  with  loud  roaring  in  the  chimney, 
and'  over  the  fire  he  beheld  a  great  cauldron,  in  which  was  seething  a  stew 
of  venison,  the  flavor  of  which  filled  the  hut  with  a  very  savory  odor.  And 
Sir  Ewaine  beheld  a  great  table,  whereon  were  many  platters  of  wood, 
and  beholding  these  things  spread  as  for  a  feast,  he  said,  "Good  dame, 
I  pray  thee  tell  me  who  dwells  here  in  this  hut  with  thee?"  The  beldame 
said,  "My  husband  and  my  sons  dwell  here  with  me."  Sir  Ewaine  said, 
"Certes,  thou  hast  a  great  family."  And  at  that  the  beldame  laughed 
very  violently  and  said,  "Yea,  that  is  true." 

After  that  the  hag  ladled  forth  a  mess  of  the  stew  into  a  wooden  bowl, 
and  she  poured  forth  a  great  flagon  of  strong  ale  and  she  set  these  things 
upon  the  board  with  a  hunch  of  black  bread,  and  Sir  Ewaine  sat  him 
down  and  ate  and  drank  with  great  appetite.  Then,  after  he  had  thus 
satisfied  his  hunger  and  his  thirst  he  was  very  drowsy,  wherefore  he  laid 
aside  his  armor  and  stretched  himself  upon  a  wooden  bench  that  stood  to 
one  side  and  placed  his  helmet  beneath  his  head  and  presently  was  en- 
wrapped in  a  sound  sleep. 

Now  that  hut  was  a  den  of  thieves  and  that  old  hag  was  their  house- 
keeper and  there  were  twenty  and  seven  in  all  of  those  thieves.     So  about 
the  middle  watch  of  the  night  that  band  of  robbers  returned  with  a  con- 
siderable booty  which  they  had  seized  from  a  party  of  townsfolk  who 
were  traversing  a  part  of  the  forest  that  was  not  very  far    Thethiffves 
distant  from  that  place.     These  beholding  Sir  Ewaine  where   return  to  the 
he  was  sleeping,  withdrew  a  little  to  one  side  and  whispered   ' 
together.     And  they  whispered  to  the  old  beldame,  saying,  "  Who  is  yon- 


244      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

der  man,  and  what  doth  he  here? "  She  said:  "  He  is  an  errant  knight,  who 
demanded  housing  awhile  since.  So  here  he  lieth  now  asleep  and  at  your 
mercy  to  dispose  of  as  you  see  fit." 

Then  the  captain  of  the  thieves  came  softly  to  where  Sir  Ewaine  lay, 
and  he  looked  closely  at  him  and  he  beheld  the  rich  chain  of  gold  about 
his  neck  and  he  beheld  the  ring  upon  his  finger  that  the  Lady  Vivien  had 
given  him.  After  that  he  withdrew  a  little  and  whispered  to  his  fellow: 
"  Here  is  a  rich  booty  upon  this  sleeping  knight.  Now  fetch  hither  cords 
and  let  us  bind  him.  After  that  we  may  rob  him  at  our  ease,  and  after 
that  again  we  may  either  slay  him  or  else  keep  him  here  for  a  great 


ransom." 


So  some  of  the  thieves  brought  a  strong  cord  and  they  made  a  noose 
The  thieves  thereof,  and  first  they  privily  took  away  all  Sir  Ewaine 's 
bind  Sir  weapons  from  him,  and  then  they  slipped  the  noose  over  his 

arms  and  in  a  trice  and  ere  he  was  fully  awake  they  had  bound 
him  several  times  about  the  body  so  that  as  to  his  hands  and  arms  he  was 
altogether  helpless. 

Thus  Sir  Ewaine  was  rudely  awakened  to  find  himself  a  captive  in  that 
place. 

But  when  he  saw  who  it  was  had  made  him  captive,  he  assumed  all 
the  majesty  of  his  high  estate  and  he  said:  "Know  ye  what  ye  do?  Wit 
ye  that  he  whom  you  have  thus  bound  is  a  king's  son  and  a  knight  of  the 
Round  Table  so  that  you  have  through  me  committed  a  very  grievous 
offence." 

Then  several  of  those  thieves  were  abashed  at  his  words  and  at  the 
great  nobility  of  his  bearing,  but  the  captain  of  the  band  who  was  a  hard- 
ened wretch,  spake  very  boldly,  saying:  "It  matters  not  who  you  are, 
only  if  you  be  truly  a  king's  son  and  a  knight  of  such  worship,  then  will 
your  ransom  be  all  the  greater."  And  he  said:  "  First  of  all  we  will  take 
this  rich  golden  bawble  from  about  your  neck,  and  then  we  will  take  the 
fair  golden  ring  from  off  your  finger." 

So  the  chief  robber  first  took  the  chain  from  about  Sir  Ewaine 's  neck, 
as  he  said,  and  then  he  drew  the  ring  from  his  finger,  and 

The  thieves  rob    ,  cv      T^        •  11  «<   •  • 

Sir  Ewaine  of     because  bir  .bwame  was  bound  he  could  in  no  wise  prevent 
*frrgeTfuinlss       ^  robber  chief  from  taking  those  jewels  from  him  in  that 

way. 

But  lo!  when  the  robber  had  plucked  the  ring  from  the  finger 
of  Sir  Ewaine,  then  in  an  instant  the  magic  of  forgetfulness  departed 
from  him,  and  he  remembered  upon  that  instant  all  that  had  befallen  him 
in  the  Valley  of  the  Fountain.  And  he  remembered  the  Lady  Lesolie  of  the 


SIR   EWAINE  ESCAPETH  FROM   THE   THIEVES  245 

Fountain,  and  he  remembered  him  of  all  the  vows  ot  faith  he  had  plighted 
to  her.  And  he  knew  now  of  why  Elose  had  come  to  him  at  sir  Ewaine 
the  King's  court  and  had  struck  him  in  the  face  before  them  ^memberethaii. 
all;  for  he  wist  that  the  damsel  had  come  because  she  thought  he  had 
proved  himself  unfaithful  and  false  to  her  lady.  So  it  was  as  though  a 
sword  of  remembrance  had  been  struck  through  the  heart  of  Sir  Ewaine, 
wherefore  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  and  piercing  voice,  "  Betrayed!  Betrayed! 
Betrayed!"  saying  that  word  three  times  over.  And  the  thieves  wist  not 
what  he  meant  by  those  words,  but  thought  that  he  meant  that  he  had 
been  betrayed  by  the  beldame,  not  knowing  that  he  meant  that  he  had 
been  betrayed  by  the  Lady  Vivien. 

Then  of  a  sudden  in  the  fury  of  that  remembrance  of  his  own  dishonor, 
it  was  as  though  the  strength  of  ten  descended  upon  Sir  Ewaine.  Where- 
fore, putting  forth  all  his  strength,  he  strained  at  his  bonds  so  that  they 
cut  into  his  flesh.  And  he  strained  even  more  and  more  violently  at  his 
bonds  until,  of  a  sudden,  they  were  burst  and  immediately  he  was 
free. 

After  that  Sir  Ewaine  looked  about  him,  but  could  find  no  weapon  to 
his  hand,  wherefore  he  catched  up  the  solid  wooden  bench  whereon  he  had 
been  lying  awhile  since.     And  he  whirled  that  bench  about  Sir  Ewaine 
his  head  and  he  smote  with  it  upon  the  right  hand  and  the  doeth  battle  with 
left  and  he  smote  the  thieves  down  upon  the  one  side  and  the   the  thlffves- 
other.     And  so  great  was  his  fury  that  they  bore  back  from  before  him  in 
terror  of  his  madness. 

So  Sir  Ewaine  might  have  slain  all  those  thieves  (though  there  were  a 
score  and  seven  of  them  in  all)  only  for  the  captain  of  the  band.     He,  be- 
holding the  fury  of  Sir  Ewaine,  ran  to  where  there  was  a  jav-   sir  Ewaine  is 
elin  that  stood  in  a  corner  of  that  place.     And  he  catched  up   woundgd- 
the  javelin  and  threw  it  at  Sir  Ewaine ;  and  the  javelin  pierced  through 
the  shoulder  of  Sir  Ewaine  and  pinned  him  fast  to  the  wall  of  the 
hut. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  wist  that  he  was  very  sorely  wounded,  wherefore  he 
roared  aloud.  And  he  strove  with  the  javelin  and  anon  he  wrenched  him- 
self loose  from  the  wall  to  which  he  had  been  pinned.  Then  he  rushed 
at  the  thieves  with  the  javelin  still  pinned  through  his  shoulder  and  they 
made  way  before  the  terror  of  his  onset. 

Now  as  the  robbers  parted  from  before  his  onset,  Sir  Ewaine  perceived 
that  there  was  a  way  for  him  to  the  door.  Thereupon  he  cast  himself 
upon  the  door  and  he  burst  it  open  and  fled  away  into  the  forest  with  the 
javelin  still  transfixed  in  his  shoulder. 


246    STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

Therewith,  perceiving  that  their  captive  was  escaping  from  them,  the 
Sir  Ewaine  thieves  rushed  after  Sir  Ewaine  and  pursued  him  with  great 
escapeth.  outcry.  But  ever  they  were  afraid  of  the  violence  of  his 

anger  (for  he  had  slain  or  broken  the  bones  of  eleven  of  them)  wherefore 
they  followed  hinT  not  "with  as  good  a  will  as  they  would  else  have  done. 
Hence  it  befell  that  Sir  Ewaine  made  his  escape  from  them  and  so  got  safe 
away  into  the  cover  of  the  night  and  of  the  forest,  though  sorely  and  woe- 
fully wounded. 

After  he  had  thus  escaped  from  that  danger,  Sir  Ewaine  knew  not  what 
to  do.  For  he  was  faint  and  bedizzied  because  of  his  wound  and  the 
agony  thereof.  But  he  wist  that  he  must  free  himself  from  that  javelin, 
wherefore  he  catched  the  haft  of  the  weapon  and  he  broke  it  in  twain.  Af- 
ter that  he  plucked  out  the  javelin  by  the  point  which  had  transfixed  his 
shoulder  and  with  that  a  great  issue  of  blood  burst  forth  from  the  wound 
so  that  Sir  Ewaine  was  nigh  to  swooning  therewith. 

But  he  did  not  swoon,  but  bare  up  under  the  passion  of  pain  that  lay 
upon  him  and  from  the  issue  of  blood  that  followed  what  he  had  done. 
Wherefore,  after  he  had  rested  him  for  a  while,  he  went  forward  through 
the  forest,  tottering  like  a  drunken  man,  now  and  then  falling,  and  ever 
anon  arising  again  and  betaking  his  way  he  knew  not  whither. 


bringeflj  aid  unto  Sir 

Elaine: 


mgsma^Sie^y^^^^m^ 

ws^^SS^f^Sa&ii^ 


Chapter   Fifth 


How  Sir  Ewaine  was  succored  and  brought  back  to  life  by  a  cer- 
tain noble  lady,  how  he  brought  aid  to  that  lady  in  a  time  of 
great  trouble,  and  how  he  returned  once  again  to  the  Lady  Leso- 
lie  of  the  Fountain. 


THUS  Sir  Ewaine  wandered  for  all  that  night  he  knew  not  whither, 
and  sometimes  he  fell  and  anon  he  would  arise  and  go  onward 
again.     So  against  the  dawn  of  day,  he  began  to  approach  the 
outskirts  of  the  forest  and  there,  as  he  wandered  painfully  onward,  he  met 
a  fagot-maker  who  had  a  cart  and  who  was  coming,  all  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, into  the  forest  to  chop  fagots. 

This  fellow,  beholding  that  figure  of  misery  with  a  face  like  to  wax  and 
a  body  all  covered  with  blood,  wist  not  whether  it  was  ghost  or  mortal  man 
whom  he  beheld,  wherefore  he  fell  to  crossing  himself  and  pattering  prayers 
for  fear.  But  Sir  Ewaine  spake,  though  in  a  very  weak  and  plaintive 
voice,  saying:  "Alas,  good  fellow!  I  pray  you,  for  the  sake  of  God's  mercy 
to  take  pity  upon  me  and  to  bear  me  hence  in  your  cart  to  where  I  may 
secure  aid  and  succor,  else  I  must  assuredly  die  all  alone  in  the  forest." 

Then  the  woodchopper  was  aware  that  Sir  Ewaine  was  no  ghost  or 
spirit  left  behind  by  the  night,  but  that  he  was  mortal  man,  and  when  he 
looked  upon  that  sad  woeful  figure,  he  was  moved  to  great  pity,  and  said: 
"  Alas,  poor  mortal,  thou  art  in  a  sad  plight  indeed  and  so  I  will  be  glad 
to  aid  thee  as  thou  desirest." 

So  after  that  the  fagot-maker  spread  a  soft  thick  bed  of  leaves  in  his 
cart  and  laid  the  wounded  knight  thereon.     And  so  he  bore    Thewood 
Sir  Ewaine  out  of  the  forest,  with  intent  to  take  him  to  some    chopper  giveth 
place  where  he  might  be  cherished  with  care  and  attention. 

Thus  it  was  that  a  poor  woodchopper  of  the  forest  lent  aid 
and  assistance  to  one  of  the  most  noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table  and 
nephew  to  King  Arthur.  As  for  that  fellow,  he  wist  not  who  it  was  to 
whom  he  was  giving  aid,  but  only  thought  that  it  was  some  poor  wretch 


250       STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

who  had  fallen  amongst  thieves,  for  Sir  Ewaine  had  neither  armor  nc 
weapons  of  any  sort  that  might  indicate  how  exalted  was  his  estate,  an 
even  his  golden  chain  of  knighthood  had  been  stolen  from  him  by  thos 
thieves  of  the  forest.  Wherefore  it  was  not  possible  for  any  one  to  kno1 
that  he  was  other  than  a  poor  wayfarer  of  the  forest.  So  the  fagot-make: 
unknowing  who  he  was,  bare  that  good  knight  out  of  the  forest,  and  S: 
Ewaine  lay  fainting,  and  all  covered  with  blood  and  nigh  to  death,  upon 
bed  of  leaves  in  a  poor  woodchopper's  cart. 

Now  when  the  fagot-maker  had  brought  the  wounded  knight  out  of  th 
woodlands  and  into  the  open  country,  he  turned  to  find  how  it  fared  wit 
him,  for  it  seemed  to  the  honest  fellow  that  his  burden  was  lying  wondei 
ful  still  and  quiet.  So  the  fagot-maker  called  out,  "  Friend,  what  chee 
have  you?"  To  this  Sir  Ewaine  answered  him  not,  for  in  the  meantim 
as  they  travelled  onward  he  had  fallen  into  a  swoon  and  now  he  lay  lik 
one  who  was  dying  or  was  dead. 

Then  the  wood  chopper  came  and  looked  upon  the  face  of  Sir  Ewaine 
and  he  beheld  that  it  was  white  like  to  death.  And  he  could  not  see  tha 
Sir  Ewaine  breathed,  wherefore  he  thought  that  the  wounded  man  was  deac 

Thereat  the  poor  knave  was  filled  with  great  fear,  for  he  said  to  himseU 
"  Of  a  surety  if  they  find  me  thus  with  a  dead  man  lying  in  my  cart,  the 
will  believe  that  I  have  committed  a  murder  and  they  will  hale  me  befor 
the  judge  and  they  will  hang  me."  Wherefore,  reasoning  in  that  wise 
he  began  to  cast  about  him  how  he  might  rid  himself  of  that  which  wa 
within  his  cart  so  that  he  should  not  thus  be  found  in  company  with 
dead  man. 

Now  at  that  time  the  cart  chanced  to  be  passing  through  a  park  coadja 
cent  to  a  castle,  the  towers  and  the  roofs  and  the  chimneys  of  which  migh 
be  seen  through  the  leaves  of  the  intervening  trees.  And  at  that  plac 
there  was  a  little  lake  of  water  with  many  flags  and  swee 
rushes  growing  around  about  the  margin  thereof,  and  thi 
Sir  Ewaine  was  a  very  secret,  quiet  place,  for  no  one  was  nigh  at  that  sti 

uCSICLG  Of  ICLKC*  ^        ^  /•     -i 

early  hour  of  day. 

So  here  perceiving  that  no  one  could  see  what  he  would  do,  the  fagot 
maker  stopped  his  cart  and  lifted  Sir  Ewaine  out  thereof  and  still  he  though 
that  the  wounded  man  was  dead.  After  that  the  woodchopper  laid  Si 
Ewaine  down  very  gently  upon  a  soft  bed  of  moss  under  the  shadow  of  a: 
oak  tree  and  beside  the  margin  of  the  lake.  Having  thus  got  rid  of  hi 
burden  in  that  wise  he  then  went  away  and  left  the  wounded  knight  lyin 
alone  in  that  place. 

Now  that  part  of  the  park  where  Sir  Ewaine  lay  was  a  very  favorit 


A    DAMSEL   REVIVETH  SIR  EWAINE  251 

spot  of  the  lady  of  the  castle,  who  was  wont  to  take  the  air  and  to  walk 

with  her  court  of  damsels  beside  the  lake.     So  it  befell  that  morning,  it 

being  a  very  pleasant  and  cheerful  day,   that  she  walked 

thither  with  those  maidens  in  attendance  upon  her.     So  com-   the^astte 

ing  to  that  place,  she  perceived  from  afar  where  Sir  Ewaine 

lay  beneath  the  oak  tree  in  the  centre  of  the  park.     And  when 

she  saw  him  she  said,  "  Who  is  yonder  man  and  what  does  he  do  here?" 

Then  one  of  the  damsels  went  more  near  to  where  Sir  Ewaine  lay,  and  she 
looked  closely  upon  him  and  anon  she  said :  '  *  Lady,  I  believe  this  man  is  dead, 
for  he  is  all  covered  with  blood,  and  I  do  not  see  him  move  or  breathe." 

The  lady  said,  "  See  if  that  be  so,"  and  therewith  the  damsel  went  closer 
to  Sir  Ewaine  and  reached  forth  and  she  laid  her  hand  upon  his  bosom. 
Then  she  was  aware  that  his  heart  beat,  but  only  a  little,  and  she  knew 
that  there  was  life  in  him.  So  she  said:  "Nay,  he  is  not  dead,  but  in  a 
swoon  that  is  like  to  death." 

Then  the  lady  came  and  also  looked  upon  Sir  Ewaine,  and  she  was 
moved  with  pity  to  behold  that  great  and  noble  frame  of  a  man  lying  there 
in  that  way.  Wherefore  she  said,  "  I  am  of  a  mind  to  save  this  man." 

So  after  that  she  and  her  court  retired  to  her  castle,  and  when  she  was 
come  there  she  took  a  very  precious  casket  of  ointment  from  a  cabinet 
and  gave  it  to  that  damsel  who  had  touched  Sir  Ewaine.  To  her  she  said : 
"Take  this  ointment,  damsel,  to  where  that  man  lieth  in  a  swoon.  For 
wit  you,  this  is  a  very  potent  oil  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness  and  weak- 
ness even  if  one  be  upon  the  edge  of  death.  Pour  a  little  of  this  ointment 
upon  the  bosom  of  that  man  above  his  heart.  Then  rub  it  well  with  thy 
hand,  and  by  and  by  he  will  revive.  Take  thou  also  yonder  horse  and 
some  decent  raiment  fit  for  such  a  well-appearing  man  to  wear,  and  let 
the  horse  be  nigh  to  him  when  he  awakens.  Then  do  thou  observe  him 
from  secret  place,  and  bring  me  word  of  what  he  doeth." 

So  the  damsel  did  all  as  the  lady  had  commanded  her  to  do;  she  took 
the  horse,  and  the  raiment  and  the  precious  balm  and  went  to 
where  Sir  Ewaine  lay  in  that  deathly  swoon.     But  when  she   the  CastL  ° 
came  to  anoint  him  with  the  ointment,  she  poured  not  a  little    bringeth  succor 

to  Sir  E^va^ne. 

upon  him,  nor  did  she  rub  with  her  hand  the  bosom  of  him 
who  lay  there ;  otherwise  she  poured  the  whole  of  the  balm  upon  Sir  Ewaine's 
bosom,  and  then  she  went  away  to  a  little  distance  and  hid  herself  to  ob- 
serve what  he  would  do. 

So  in  a  little  she  saw  that  the  wounded  man  began  to  bestir  himself  and 
move  his  arms  this  way  and  that.  Anon  he  uplifted  himself  from  where 
he  lay  and  gazed  all  about  him,  and  so,  being  revived,  remembered  all  that 


252       STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY   OF  THE  FOUNTAIN 

he  had  aforetime  forgotten.  Then  he  groaned  with  great  travail  of  soul, 
for  the  memory  of  his  dishonor  came  upon  him  and  he  still  suffered  a 
grievous  pain  from  that  sore  wound  in  his  shoulder.  Then  anon  he  be- 
held the  horse  near  by  and  the  garments  that  were  beside  the  horse,  and 
he  thought  that  maybe  those  things  had  been  placed  there  for  his  use, 
though  who  had  been  so  kind  to  him  he  knew  not.  So  he  arose  with  great 
pain  and  he  took  the  clothes  from  the  horse  and  he  went  to  the  lake  and 
bathed  himself.  After  that  he  put  on  the  clothes  and  mounted  upon  the 
horse  with  intent  to  depart  from  that  place. 

Then  the  maiden,  who  had  beheld  all  that  he  did,  came  forth  from  the 
thicket  where  she  had  been  hidden  and  whence  she  had  observed  him, 
and  when  Sir  Ewaine  saw  her  he  said,  "  Maiden,  was  it  thou  who  purveyed 
me  with  this  horse  and  with  these  garments?  "  She  said,  "  Nay,  it  was  the 
lady  to  whom  this  place  belongs."  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "  Who  is  that  lady?" 
And  the  maiden  replied:  "She  is  the  widow  of  a  very  powerful  lord,  and 
she  hath  saved  thy  life  this  day.  For  she  sent  me  with  an  ointment  with 
which  I  bathed  thee,  and  which  gave  thee  strength  to  arise  again.  And 
she  sent  thee  that  horse  and  those  clothes  which  thou  hast  put  on."  Sir 
Ewaine  said  :  "  Certes,  she  is  most  kind  and  charitable  in  her  heart.  Perhaps 
some  time  I  may  do  her  a  service  that  will  be  equal  to  this  service  which 
she  hath  rendered  to  me." 

Now  the  maiden  did  not  suspect  who  it  was  with  whom  she  spake,  for 
his  face  was  white  like  milk,  and  very  haggard  and  wild  with  pain  and  weak- 
ness, so  that  his  countenance  showed  none  of  that  nobility  that  belonged 
to  him.  And,  as  aforesaid,  he  had  no  armor,  for  the  thieves  had  taken  away 
his  armor  and  he  had  left  it  behind  him  in  the  hut  whence  he  had  escaped. 
So  the  maiden  had  no  cause  to  think  that  he  was  one  of  great  worship  whom 
she  beheld,  so  she  said  :  "  Good  fellow,  my  lady  hath  need  enough  of  aid,  but 
I  do  not  believe  that  thou  art  one  who  may  help  her  in  her  trouble." 

"Why  dost  thou  think  that?"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine.  "Thou  shouldst  not 
judge  of  my  ability  from  what  thou  seest,  for  I  may  be  other  than  what 
I  appear  to  be." 

Then  the  damsel  was  greatly  astonished  at  the  dignity  of  manner  with 
which  he  spoke,  for  he  spoke  as  one  having  authority  and  very  calmly 
.  .  and  haughtily.  So  she  began  to  misdoubt  that  this  was  some 
one  else  than  she  had  first  thought  him  to  be,  wherefore  she 


T°  the  whicn 

he  replied:  "I  am  Sir  Ewaine  of  King  Arthur's  court  and  of 
his  Round  Table,  son  to  King  Uriens  of  Gore  and  of  the  Lady  Queen  Mor- 
gana surnamed  le  Fay." 


SIR  EWAINE  PROCLAIMETH  HIMSELF    TO    THE  DAMSEL       253 

At  this  proclamation  the  damsel  was  greatly  astonished,  wherefore  she 
cried  out  aloud:  "Is  it  indeed  possible  that  this  is  so,  and  that  so  famous 
and  so  remarkable  a  knight  should  have  come  to  such  a  pass  as  that  in 
which  you  were  found?  "  and  the  damsel  said:  "  Now  the  lady  of  this  castle 
will  be  very  highly  honored  when  she  comes  to  know  that  she  hath  lent 
succor  to  so  noble  and  haughty  a  champion  as  you  proclaim  yourself  to  be. 
Let  us  go  to  her  so  that  you  may  tell  her  the  story  of  your  misfortunes." 
And  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "  So  be  it,  and  let  us  go." 

So  they  both  departed  from  that  place  and  as  they  wended  their  way 
thence  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "Now  tell  me,  damsel,  what  is  the  need  of  help 
that  thy  lady  hath  and  concerning  which  thou  didst  speak  to  me  anon?" 

The  damsel  said  :  "  I  will  tell  thee.     The  lady  of  this  castle  is  a  widow, 
and  at  the  death  of  her  husband  she  had  two  very  noble    Thedamsei 
castles  and  two  great  estates  belonging  to  those  castles.    Those   teUeth  sir 
castles  and  that  land  her  lord  bequeathed  to  her  to  have  and 


to  hold  for  her  own.     Now  after  she  was  thus  left  a  widow,    lady  of  the 
it  befell  that  a  certain  very  proud  and  haughty  lord  who  was 
her  neighbor,  desired  to  make  her  his  wife  ;  but  she  would  not  listen  to  his 
suit,  having  great  love  for  that  worthy  knight  her  husband  who  was  dead. 
So  she  refused  the  knight  who  desired  to  wed  her  and  at  that  he  was  very 
angry.     After  that  he  came  with  a  great  array  of  armed  men,  and  he 
despoiled  her  of  one  of  her  estates  by  force.     And  now,  unless  she  should 
yield  to  him,  he  threatens  to  take  away  this  other  estate  whereon  she 
dwelleth  and  which  is  all  that  she  hath  in  the  world. 

"  So  my  lady  is  in  a  great  pass  and  knoweth  not  what  to  do,  having  no 
knight  for  to  defend  her;  for  all  those  who  should  defend  her,  fall  away 
from  her  in  this  time  of  trouble  for  fear  of  the  anger  of  that  lord  who  seeks 
her  hand." 

"Certes,  this  is  a  sad  story  which  thou  tellest  me,"  said  Sir  Ewaine, 
"  and  indeed  I  will  do  what  I  may  to  help  thy  lady,  who  hath  been  so  kind 
to  me." 

Thus  talking  together,  they  two  approached  the  castle,  and  the  lady 
of  the  castle,  beholding  them  coming  from  a  distance,  was  greatly  sur- 
prised to  see  the  damsel  conversing  in  that  wise  with  the  wounded  man 
whom  she  had  been  sent  to  succor. 

Then  when  they  were  come  to  her  the  lady  said  to  the  damsel,  "  Didst 
thou  use  that  balm  as  I  told  thee  to  do?"  And  the  damsel  said,  "Yea." 
The  lady  said,  "How  much  didst  thou  use  thereof?"  And  the  damsel 
said,  "I  used  it  all." 

Then  the  lady  when  she  heard  how  that  the  damsel  had  poured  all  of 


254       STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

that  balm  at  one  time  upon  Sir  Ewaine,  was  much  affronted  and  very 

angry  with  her,  and  she  said:  "What  is  this  that  thou  hast 

Ifo  cartel!;        done?     I  cannot  easily  forgive  thee  this,  for  thou  hast  wasted 

affronted  at        several  score  pounds  worth  of  the  precious  ointment  upon  a 

the  maiden.  +        +        1,1 

stranger  whom  we  know  not  and  who  hath  no  appearance 
of  worship." 

Unto  her  the  maiden  made  reply:  "Lady,  be  not  offended  at  this,  foi 
wit  you  that  this  stranger  is  of  far  greater  worth  than  all  the  balm  you 
could  pour  upon  him." 

At  these  words  the  lady  was  much  surprised,  wherefore  she  said,  "  Whc 
is  he  that  is  of  such  great  worth  as  thou  sayst?"  and  the  damsel  replied: 
"Lady,  this  is  none  other  than  Sir  Ewaine,  Knight  of  the  Round  Table 
and  nephew  of  King  Arthur." 

Then  the  lady  of  the  castle  cried  out  with  astonishment  and  said,  "  Is 

The  lad,  iv-  this  truc  that  *  hear?"  ^^  $ir  Ewaine  said,  "Yea,  Lady." 
etk  welcome  to  Then  the  lady  of  the  castle  came  to  Sir  Ewaine  and  took 
Sir  Ewaine.  ^{m  by  ^  hand>  and  saM:  «  Welcome,  welcome,  Sir  Ewaine1 

Now  this  is  a  great  honor  that  hath  befallen  us  at  this  place  to  have  given 
aid  and  succor  to  a  knight  so  famous  in  chivalry  as  thou  art." 

"Lady,"  quoth  Sir  Ewaine,  "you  do  me  honor  beyond  my  worth,  and 
so  you  put  me  under  still  greater  obligations  than  I  rested  under  afore 
this.  Now  I  am  most  desirous  of  repaying  you  in  some  measure  for  all 
the  kindness  that  you  have  visited  upon  me,  wherefore,  if  it  be  sooth  as 
I  have  been  informed  by  this  maiden  that  you  have  need  of  such  a  knight- 
champion  at  this  place,  then  do  I  offer  myself  as  such  a  champion,  trusting 
that  I  may  be  of  aid  to  you  and  so  repay  to  you  in  some  measure  those 
favors  which  you  have  bestowed  upon  me." 

At  this  the  lady  was  rejoiced  beyond  all  measure,  and  she  said :  "  Mes- 
sire,  I  accept  thy  offer  of  championship  with  all  gratitude  and  with  much 
pride,  for  indeed  I  believe  it  would  not  be  possible  to  find  in  all  of  the 
world  a  champion  as  haughty  and  as  puissant  as  thou  art." 

So  it  came  about  that  Sir  Ewaine  abided  at  the  castle  of  that  widowed 
chatelaine  for  a  long  time,  and  until  he  was  altogether  healed  of  his  wound. 
And  every  day  he  grew  more  strong  and  sturdy  of  body  and  more  noble 
of  appearance,  so  that  all  they  of  the  castle  took  great  pride  in  having  him 
there  as  their  champion. 

Now  it  befell  upon  a  day  that  there  came  to  this  castle  that  evil-minded 
lord  of  whom  the  damsel  had  spoken  to  Sir  Ewaine,  and  this  lord  brought 
with  him  six  other  knights,  and  all  these  seven  knights  pitched  their  pa- 
vilions before  the  castle  gates.  And  they  mocked  at  those  in  the  castle 


SIR  EWAINE  DEFENDETH   THE  CASTLE  OF   THE   LADY       255 

and  dared  any  one  to  come  forth  therefrom,  for  they  knew  not,  as  you  may 
Delieve,  that  Sir  Ewaine  was  there  as  the  champion  of  the  castle. 

So  when  Sir  Ewaine  heard  how  that  knight  mocked  at  the  people  of  the 
castle,  he  was  very  wroth,  wherefore  he  quickly  made  him  ready,  and 
donned  a  suit  of  rich  armor  that  the  lady  had  provided  for  him.  And  he 
mounted  upon  his  horse,  and  so  being  in  all  wise  prepared,  he  gave  com- 
mand to  uplift  the  portcullis  and  to  let  fall  the  drawbridge.  Then  he  rode 
forth  from  the  castle,  his  horse's  hoofs  smiting  the  planks  of  the  draw- 
bridge with  a  noise  like  to  thunder  as  he  rode.  And  all  of  the  people  of  the 
castle  crowded  out  upon  the  walls,  and  when  they  beheld  him  ride  past 
in  that  wise,  they  shouted  with  a  loud  voice  because  that  such  a  champion 
was  to  defend  the  rights  of  their  lady  chatelaine. 

But  when  the  knight  and  his  companions  who  had  come  against  the 
lady  of  the  castle  beheld  that  one  champion  ride  forth  in  defence  thereof, 
he  was  greatly  surprised,  and  wist   not  what  to  think.     So 
presently  he  rode  forward  to  meet  Sir  Ewaine,  and  he  said  to    dllth  ™att!e  for 


him,  "Sir,  what  knight  art  thou?"  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "I  am  { 
the  champion  of  the  lady  of  this  castle,  and  I  come  forth  with 
intent  to  do  battle  in  her  behalf."  Then  that  lord  said,  "What  is  thy 
estate?  "  To  the  which,  Sir  Ewaine,  speaking  with  great  pride  and  haughti- 
ness, made  reply:  "  It  matters  not  that  I  tell  thee  at  this  present,  but  I  may 
assure  thee  of  this,  that  mine  is  a  higher  estate  and  a  greater  credit  than 
thine  own."  Then  the  knight  said,  "  Wouldst  thou  fight  against  us  who  are 
seven?"  And  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Yea,  verily."  And  the  knight  said,  "Thou 
art  very  foolish,  but  be  it  so." 

So  Sir  Ewaine  withdrew  himself  a  little,  and  made  himself  ready  in  all 
wise  for  battle.  Meantime  that  knight  who  had  bespoken  him  withdrew  to 
his  party  and  he  said  to  a  knight  who  was  the  champion  of  his  party,  "  Go 
thou  forth  against  yon  fellow."  And  the  champion  of  that  party  did  so. 

Now  that  knight  was  the  greatest  and  most  powerful  knight  in  all  the 
country  in  which  he  dwelt.  And  he  was  very  huge  of  girth  and  thick  of  limb, 
and  so  great  had  been  his  success  at  arms  that  he  made  sure  that  he  could 
easily  be  able  to  overthrow  his  opponent.  Wherefore  he  made  him  ready  very 
proudly  and  took  his  station  with  great  confidence.  And  when  he  was  in  all 
wise  prepared,  he  shouted  aloud  and  launched  his  horse  against  the  horse 
of  Sir  Ewaine  with  full  expectation  that  he  would  overthrow  his  enemy. 

So  they  two  rushed  together  like  thunder  and  so  met  in  the  very  middle 
of  the  course  with  such  a  crash  of  encounter  that  those  who  heard  it  stood 
appalled  at  the  sound.  But  in  that  encounter  the  spear  of  the  champion 
of  that  wicked  lord's  party  broke  all  into  splinters,  but  the  spear  of  Sir 


256      STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

Ewaine  held  so  that  the  other  was  cast  to  earth  with  such  force  that  he  lay 
stunned  and  altogether  devoid  of  life  and  motion. 

Then  when  the  other  knights  of  that  party  beheld  how  their  champion 
had  been  overthrown  so  violently  to  earth,  all  they  were  greatly  amazed 
at  the  result  of  that  encounter ;  for  as  was  said,  there  was  no  knight  in  all 
of  that  region  who  was  so  strong  as  that  champion.  Then  they  were 
filled  with  rage,  and  dropping  their  lances  in  rest,  they  all  rushed  upon 
Sir  Ewaine  together,  with  intent  to  overthrow  him  by  force  of  numbers 
and  might  of  metal,  and  afterward  to  slay  him  when  he  was  unhorsed. 
But  Sir  Ewaine  did  not  give  them  their  will,  but  wheeled  his  horse  with 
HOW  sir  great  address  and  dexterity  and  in  such  a  wise  as  to  separate 

e  over-      those  who  thus  came  upon  him  in  a  body.     Then  suddenly 
of         he  wheeled  about  again,  and  ere  they  were  prepared  for  at- 
the  lady.  tack,  he  smote  down  one  knight  and  then  another  and  an- 

other, so  that  only  three  of  those  who  assailed  him  were  left.  With  that 
the  others  were  filled  with  a  great  terror  of  the  woeful  buffets  that  Sir 
Ewaine  struck,  wherefore,  without  further  combat,  they  all  three  turned 
and  fled.  But  ever  Sir  Ewaine  pursued  them  with  great  fury  and  he  came 
nigh  to  one  who  was  fleeing  and  smote  him  down  from  his  horse.  And  he 
came  nigh  to  another  and  smote  him  down  also.  Then  last  of  all  he  over- 
took that  lord  who  was  the  enemy  of  that  lady,  and  he  smote  him  so  sorely 
with  his  sword  that  he  would  have  fallen  from  his  horse  had  not  Sir  Ewaine 
catched  him  ere  he  fell.  Then  Sir  Ewaine  plucked  that  knight  out  of  his 
saddle  and  he  laid  him  across  the  bow  of  his  own  saddle.  So  after  having 
overthrown  all  those  seven  knights  in  that  wise,  he  rode  back  again  into 
the  castle  bearing  that  wicked  lord  lying  across  his  saddle  bow. 

Now  when  those  who  stood  upon  the  castle  walls  beheld  what  wonder- 
ful battle  their  champion  did,  they  were  amazed  beyond  measure  at  his 
prowess  and  they  shouted  aloud  for  joy  at  the  victory  of  their  champion 
over  their  enemies.  So  Sir  Ewaine  rode  into  the  castle,  in  the  midst  of  all 
that  shouting  and  loud  acclaim.  And  he  came  to  where  the  lady  was 
standing  in  a  balcony  that  overlooked  the  courtyard  of  the  castle,  and  he 
looked  up  to  where  she  stood  and  he  said:  "  Lady,  lo!  I  have  brought  you 
back  your  enemy  in  payment  for  that  blessed  balm  with  which  you  brought 
me  back  to  life." 

The  lad  of  Then  the  lady  of  the  castle  knew  not  what  to  do  for  joy. 

the  castle  giv-  Wherefore  she  came  down  from  where  she  was  and  catched 
Sir  Ewaine  bY  tne  hand  and  kissed  it  repeatedly.  And  she 
called  upon  Sir  Ewaine  as  her  savior,  but  Sir  Ewaine  with- 
drew his  hand  in  great  confusion,  and  said:  "  Lady,  do  not  do  so,  for  wit  you 


SIR  EWAINE  DEPARTETH   FROM    THE   CASTLE  257 

I  am  a  man  who  hath  done  a  dishonorable  thing.  And  though  I  did  that 
ill  thing  unwittingly,  yet  I  am  attainted  because  of  that  which  I  did." 

Then  the  lady  said:  "Sir,  I  will  not  believe  that  you  were  ever  dishon- 
orable, and  I  would  that  you  would  remain  always  in  this  castle." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  smiled  and  said:  "  I  thank  you  for  that  wish.  But  it 
may  not  be,  for  now  that  I  have  done  my  service  in  your  behalf  and 
have  brought  your  enemy  to  you  to  deal  with  at  your  pleasure,  to-morrow 
I  must  depart  upon  my  way  once  more." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  delivered  the  captive  knight  from  the  pommel  of  his 
saddle  into  the  hands  of  the  lady,  and  afterward  that  wicked  knight 
was  bound  with  many  securities  and  hostages  to  good  behavior,  and  so  he 
tormented  that  lady  no  more  from  that  time  forth  unto  the  end  of  her  life. 

Now  when  the  next  day  was  come  Sir  Ewaine  appeared  before  the  lady 
of  the  castle  and  besought  her  that  she  would  take  back  the  armor  she 
had  given  him  and  that  in  place  of  that  armor  she  would 
purvey  him  the  dress  of  a  pilgrim.  So  that  lady  did  as  she 


was  asked,  and  when  she  had  done  so  Sir  Ewaine  clad  himself    ***  ca^  as  a 
as  a  pilgrim  and  departed  from  the  castle  of  that  chatelaine. 

And  Sir  Ewaine  wandered  hither  and  thither  as  a  pilgrim  for  several 
weeks;  and  after  much  journeying  he  came  at  last  to  that  valley  where 
dwelt  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain.  For  ever  his  will  led  him  thitherward, 
and  so  it  came  about  that  at  last  he  beheld  that  town  and  castle  once 
more.  And  when  he  beheld  that  place  and  when  he  brought  to  mind  all 
that  had  befallen  him  of  good  and  of  ill  thereat  the  tears  arose  into  his 
eyes  so  that  all  things  that  he  beheld  swam  as  in  a  flood  of  water. 

Then  by  and  by  he  went  toward  that  Castle  of  the  Fountain  and  when 
he    had    come    thereunto,   he    knocked    upon    the    postern 
door  and  besought  those  who  opened  to  him  that  he  might   refurnethlo  the 


have  speech  with  the  lady  of  the  castle.  So  anon  he 
was  shown  into  the  apartment  where  the  lady  was,  and 
Elose  was  with  her,  and  several  others  of  the  damsels  of  her  court. 

Now  the  hood  of  the  cloak  that  Sir  Ewaine  wore,  and  the  pilgrim's  hat, 
so  concealed  his  face  that  no  one  who  was  there  knew  who  he  was.  Where- 
fore the  Lady  Lesolie,  speaking  as  to  a  stranger,  said,  "  Sir,  what  wouldst 
thou  have  of  me?"  And  Sir  Ewaine  answered  saying:  "Lady,  I  come 
hither  to  bear  to  you  a  message  from  one  who  has  unwittingly  done  you 
a  great  injury." 

Upon  this  the  lady  cried  out  very  vehemently:  "Sir,  if  you  come  from 
that  recreant  knight,  Sir  Ewaine,  then  you  may  return  unto  him  again 


258       STORY   OF  SIR  EWAINE   AND   LADY   OF   THE   FOUNTAIN 

who  hath  sent  you  hither."  To  which  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "Lady,  I  cannot 
return  unto  him,  for  it  would  be  impossible." 

At  these  words  the  Lady  Lesolie's  countenance  fell,  and  for  a  while  she 
spake  not.  Then  after  a  while  she  said,  "  Dost  thou  bring  ill  news  of  him? " 
And  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "  I  know  not  whether  the  news  be  ill  unto  thee  or 
not,  but  some  while  ago  I  beheld  that  unfortunate  knight  where  he  lay 
dying  in  a  park  beside  a  lake  of  water."  < 

Then  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain  pressed  her  handkerchief  to  her  lips  as 
though  to  check  an  outcry,  and  after  a  little  while  she  said,  "  Good  Sir, 
tell  me  what  you  know."  Sir  Ewaine  said,  "  I  will  do  so."  And  he  said: 
"  You  are  to  know  that  when  Sir  Ewaine  left  this  court  to  return  to  the 
court  of  King  Arthur,  he  fell  in  with  the  Enchantress  Vivien,  who  gave 
him  a  ring  of  forgetfulness  so  that  he  disremembered  all  that  had  hap- 
pened to  him  at  your  court.  Afterward  there  came  a  young  damsel  from 
this  place  who  put  him  to  shame  before  all  those  who  were  his  compan- 
ions at  the  court  of  King  Arthur.  This  that  damsel  did  because  she 
thought  that  Sir  Ewaine  was  unfaithful  to  you.  But  he  was  not  unfaith- 
ful and  so  he  was  shamed  for  no  good  reason.  Now  after  being  thus 
shamed  before  all  the  court  of  King  Arthur  in  that  wise,  this  woeful  knight 
departed  from  his  friends  because  he  could  not  bear  to  dwell  in  his  humil- 
iation before  them.  So  he  left  all  those  his  friends  and  journeyed  afar, 
and  in  his  journeyings  he  fell  among  thieves,  and  these  finding  him  un- 
armed, bound  him  whilst  he  slept,  and  robbed  him  and  wounded  him  to 
death.  So  it  was  that  I  beheld  him  lying  by  the  wayside,  pierced  through 
with  a  javelin  and  dying  of  that  wound,  and  so  have  I  come  thither  to  tell 
you  of  this  story." 

Now  when  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain  heard  what  that  pilgrim  had  to 
say,  she  shrieked  with  great  violence  and  immediately  swooned  away  and 
fell  upon  the  ground. 

Then  several  of  her  maidens  ran  to  her  and  these  served  her  until  by 
and  by  she  revived  from  her  swoon.  Yet  when  she  was  thus  recovered 
she  straightway  fell  to  smiting  her  hands  together  and  crying  aloud  in  a 
very  bitter  agony  of  spirit:  "Woe  is  me  that  I  should  have  disbelieved  in 
the  honor  of  that  noble  and  worthy  knight,  for  now  because  of  my  dis- 
belief in  him  I  perceive  that  I  have  lost  him  forever.  For  so  hath  died 
the  best  and  truest  knight  that  ever  lived  in  all  of  the  world."  Saying 
this,  she  fell  to  weeping  in  great  measure,  and  Elose  strove  to  comfort 
her,  also  weeping,  but  the  lady  would  not  be  comforted.  Then  Sir  Ewaine 
said,  "Lady,  hast  thou  yet  such  a  kind  regard  for  the  knight  as  this?" 
And  the  Lady  Lesolie  said  with  great  passion:  "Yea,  truly,  and  so  I  al- 


SIR   EWAINE  IS   WEDDED    TO    THE  LADY  LESOLIE  259 

ways  shall  have,  for  methinks  that  never  such  another  knight  as  he  lived 
in  this  world." 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said:   "Lady,   you  understood  not  my  words.     Sir 
Ewaine  is  not  dead,  and  if  you  will  you  may  easily  have  him 
here  again."     She  said,  "How  know  you  that?"     Then  Sir 


Ewaine  cast  off  his  hood  and  laid  aside  his  hat  and  said  :  self  to  the 
"  Lady,  I  am  that  man  ;  and  if  I  have  deceived  thee  in  this, 
it  is  that  I  may  again  behold  thy  face  that  is  so  dear  to  me  —  yea,  that  is 
dearer  than  all  the  world  besides."  So  saying,  Sir  Ewaine  kneeled  before 
the  lady  and  embraced  her  about  the  knees,  and  she  stooped  and  em- 
braced his  head  and  both  of  them  wept  with  a  great  passion  of  love  and 
joy.  And  so  they  were  reconciled  to  one  another. 

And  in  that  reconciliation  there  was  much  rejoicing,  for  all  the  town  was 
bedraped  with  silken  scarves  and  banners  by  day  and  illuminated  by  night 
because  of  joy  for  the  return  of  the  champion-defender  of  the  Fountain. 
And  there  was  feasting  and  drinking  at  the  castle  of  the  Fountain,  and 
there  was  jousting  from  day  to  day  for  seven  days,  and  in  those  joustings 
the  knights  of  the  court  of  the  Fountain  under  the  lead  of  Sir  Ewaine  de- 
fended their  chivalry  with  such  skill  and  valor  that  none  of  those  that 
came  against  them  were  able  to  withstand  them,  but  all  those  companies 
of  knights-contestant  were  defeated,  to  the  great  glory  of  the  Lady  Leso- 
lie  of  the  Fountain. 

Then  after  seven  days  of  this  rejoicing,  Sir  Ewaine  was  wedded  with  great 
pomp  of  circumstance  to  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain.  And  of  that  wed- 
ding it  is  to  be  recorded  in  the  history  of  these  things  that  Sir  Ewaine 
and  the  Lady  Lesolie  rode  to  the  minster  upon  milk-white  horses,  and 
that  they  were  all  clad  in  white  samite  embroidered  with  silver  and  inset 
with  so  many  precious  stones  of  all  sorts  and  kinds  that  they  glistened 
in  the  sunlight  as  though  they  were  two  figures  of  living  fire.  And  it  is 
recorded  that  tenscore  damsels  of  wonderful  beauty,  clad  all  in  white,  pre- 
ceded them  upon  the  way,  and  spread  the  way  with  flowers,  chaunting 
the  while  in  voices  of  great  rejoicing. 

Thus  Sir  Ewaine  was  wedded  at  the  castle  of  the  Fountain,  and  after 
that  he  dwelt  in  the  land  of  the  Fountain  with  great  peace  and  good 
content. 

And  Sir  Ewaine  ever  defended  the  Fountain  as  he  had  aforetime,  so  that 
the  fame  of  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain  was  known  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  land  and  in  every  court  of  chivalry.  And  many 
knights  undertook  the  Adventure  of  the  Fountain  but  in  every  case  such 
errant  knights  were  overthrown  by  the  valor  and  the  skill  of  the  Knight  of 


260     STORY  OF  SIR  EWAINE  AND  LADY  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN 

the  Fountain.  And  in  every  case  where  that  knight  adventurer  was  thus 
overthrown,  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain  would  take  from  him  his  horse 
and  his  shield  and  would  send  him  away  upon  foot,  disarmed  and  ashamed. 
So,  because  of  the  valor  of  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain,  it  came  about 
in  course  of  time  that  a  very  noble  and  worthy  court  of  chivalry  became 
established  at  the  castle  of  the  city  of  the  Fountain,  insomuch  that  the 
renown  of  that  court  of  the  Fountain  hath  been  handed  down  in  the  his- 
tories of  chivalry  even  to  this  day,  when  knighthood  no  longer  dwelleth 
upon  the  earth. 

Such  is  the  history  of  Sir  Ewaine  when  he  undertook  the  Adventure  of 
the  Fountain  whilst  upon  the  quest  of  Sir  Launcelot.  And  now  if  you 
choose  to  read  further  you  shall  hear  how  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore 
found  Sir  Launcelot  in  the  Island  of  Joy  and  of  how  Sir  Launcelot  returned 
to  his  friends  once  more. 


PART  VI 
The  Return  of  Sir  Launcelot 


followeth  the  further  history  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake;  of  how 
Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  found  Sir  Launcelot  where  he 
was  dwelling  very  peacefully  and  happily  (albeit  not  with  perfect  content) 
in  the  Island  of  Joy,  of  which  you  have  heard  mention  in  that  which  hath 
gone  before;  of  the  notable  affair-at-arms  betwixt  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Percival,  and  of  how  Sir  Launcelot,  with  Elaine  the  Fair,  returned  with 
Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur.  Like- 
wise you  shall  there  read  of  what  befell  that  noble  company  in  the  Valley 
of  the  Fountain  aforetold  of. 

All  this  history  is  of  such  a  sort  that  it  hath  given  me  great  pleasure  to 
write  it;  wherefore  if  so  be  it  may  give  you  a  like  sort  of  pleasure  to  read  it, 
then  shall  I  be  very  well  content  with  that  which  I  have  done  in  my  en- 
deavor to  set  forth  these  several  events  aforesaid. 


k  LamomcR  anb  Sir  Percbal 


Chapter   First 


How  Sir  Percival  met  his  brother,  and  how  they  two  journeyed  to 
the  priory  where  their  mother  dwelt  and  what  befell  them  there- 
after. 

NOW  return  we  to  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore  whom  Sir  Ewaine 
left  (as  aforetold  of)  still  sleeping  in  that  castle  whence  we  de- 
parted so  early  in  the  morning — even  before  the  break  of  day — 
to  undertake  the  Adventure  of  the  Fountain. 

When  those  two  good  knights  awoke  and  found  that  Sir  Ewaine  had 
departed,  they  communed  together  in  the  bedchamber  of  Sir  Percival. 
And  they  agreed  that  thereafter  they  two  should  join  company  and  that 
in  their  further  search  for  Sir  Launcelot  they  should  travel  . 

together  as  companions.  So  when  they  had  broken  their  and  Sir  Sagra- 
fast,  they  bade  farewell  to  the  lord  of  the  castle,  and  de- 
parted  upon  their  way,  travelling  very  cheerfully  together, 
side  by  side,  and  taking  great  joy  in  the  gay  and  jocund  weather,  and  in 
all  the  sweet  freshness  and  the  warmth  of  the  springtide  that  embalmed 
them  around  about. 

So  they  travelled  as  companions  in  arms  for  more  than  a  year,  and  in 
that  time  they  met  with  several  bel-ad ventures,  some  of  which  are  told  of 
in  books  of  chivalry  and  some  of  which  are  not  told  of.  And  I  would  that 


264  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

I  could  recount  those  adventures  that  befell  them,  but  I  cannot,  for  it 
would  take  another  book  as  great  as  this  to  tell  all  of  the  things  that  hap- 
pened to  them  in  their  journeyings.  Yet  it  shall  here  be  said  that  in 
those  adventurings  they  fell  in  with  a  great  many  sorts  of  folk  of  different 
condition,  both  gentle  and  simple,  and  that  several  times  they  met  certain 
knights-companion  of  the  Round  Table.  And  it  shall  here  be  said  that 
they  met  in  that  wise  with  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  concerning 
which  meeting  there  shall  be  more  said  anon. 

And  if  you  would  ask  how  they  lodged  them  during  their  travels  I  would 
say  that  they  lodged  them  in  divers  sorts  and  ways.  For  if  it  happened 
that  at  one  time  they  would  lodge  them  in  such  a  noble  castle  as  that  where 
Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Percival  met  Sir  Sagramore,  then  it  would  happen  at 
Of  the  manner  anotner  time  that  tnev  would  find  shelter  in  the  hut  of  some 
in  which  they  lonely  shepherd  upon  the  moorlands,  and  then  it  would  happen 
at  still  another  time  that  they  would  even  have  no  shelter 
at  all,  but  would  maybe  wrap  themselves  each  in  his  cloak  with  nothing 
beneath  him  for  a  bed  but  the  cold  honest  earth,  and  nothing  above  him 
for  a  coverlet  but  the  silent  company  of  God's  own  sky,  all  sprinkled  over 
with  a  countless  multitude  of  brightly  shining  stars.  For  so  those  good 
knights  of  old  travelled  errant  in  those  days,  taking  whatever  befell  them 
in  good  part,  and  accepting  all  that  came  to  them  with  a  cheerful  spirit. 

If  you  would  ask  me  in  what  sort  of  weather  they  travelled,  I  would  tell 
you  that  they  were  content  with  whatsoever  weather  God  sent  to  them; 
for  if  the  weather  were  pleasant,  as  upon  that  first  day  of  their  journey, 
then  they  would  travel  very  cheerfully  up  hill  and  down  dale,  in  sunshine 
or  shadow  as  the  case  might  be;  and  if  the  weather  were  foul,  then  they 
would  abide  wheresoever  heaven  sent  them  shelter  wherein  to  stay  until 
the  storm  would  pass  by  and  be  gone. 

For  this  is  true,  that  even  wintry  weather  cannot  chill  a  cheerful  heart ; 
wherefore,  when  the  north  wind  would  bluster  loud  and  boisterously,  and 
when  the  falling  snow  would  be  covering  all  the  earth  with  frozen  white, 
then  those  two  worthy  champions  would  be  well  content  to  lodge  them 
at  some  wayside  inn.  For  there  they  might  warm  them  beside  the  roar- 
ing fire,  whereof  the  blaze  would  shine  in  red  sparks  of  light  at  several 
places  upon  the  polished  plates  of  their  armor,  and  whilst  they  took  cheer 
in  the  heat  of  the  fire,  and  whilst  they  listened  to  the  storm,  how  it  beat 
and  drummed  upon  the  windows,  and  whilst  they  harkened  at  the  wind, 
how  it  roared  and  thundered  about  the  gables  of  the  house,  that  while 
they  would  take  great  pleasure  in  the  company  of  the  good  folk  of  the 
neighborhood,  who  would  be  gathered  around  a  merry  bowl  of  hot  mulled 


HOW   THE   TWO  KNIGHTS  JOURNEY  TOGETHER  265 

ale,  with  roasted  crab-apples  bobbing  afloat  in  it,  singing  merry  songs 
the  while  and  telling  jolly  contes,  and  laughing  and  making  rude  and 
homely  sport  in  several  ways  that  afforded  good  entertainment  to  those 
two  belted  knights  who  listened  thereunto. 

Thus  you  may  know  how  in  several  ways  it  was  that  those  two  good 
worthy  knights  travelled  during  that  considerable  time  when  they  were 
journeying  together  as  companions  in  arms,  for  in  this  wise  I  have  taken 
great  pleasure  in  telling  you  thereof. 

Now  after  those  two  had  thus  been  companions  in  amity  together  for 
the  space  of  a  year  or  a  little  more  than  a  year,  it  chanced 

,.,,,,.,-..,.,  i  «  Sir  Percival 

upon  a  certain  day  that  they  found  themselves  at  a  place   and  sir  Sagra- 


where  a  woodland  ceased  and  where  there  began  a  very  fair  ^.evc^  to  a 
valley  with  a  smooth  shining  river  winding  like  a  ribbon 
down  the  length  thereof.  And  they  sat  at  the  head  of  that  valley  and  they 
gazed  down  for  some  while  thereinto,  and  they  beheld  that  valley  with 
great  joy  because  it  was  so  fair  and  fruitful.  For  in  it  were  several  mead- 
owlands,  all  smiling  with  verdure,  and  there  were  many  fields  of  growing 
corn,  and  these  fields  and  meadows  rose  ever  upward  until  they  cut 
against  the  sky,  as  smooth  with  fertility  as  though  carved  out  with  the 
edge  of  a  sharp  keen  knife.  And  beside  the  river  were  banks  of  reeds 
and  rushes  and  pollard  willows  and  thickets  of  alder  and  aspen.  And  the 
broad  high-road  followed  the  course  of  the  stream  and  there  were  several 
mills  in  the  valley  and  broad  ponds  of  water  with  bosky  trees  and  with 
houses  clustered  upon  the  banks  thereof.  And  ever  the  breeze  blew  mild 
and  steady,  and  very  balmy  and  warm,  and  great  round  white  clouds 
moved  slowly  across  the  high  arch  of  the  bright  blue  sky. 

All  this  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore  beheld  and  they  took  such  joy 
in  it  that  so  I  cannot  forbear  to  tell  you  of  it  as  I  have  done  because  of  the 
joy  that  I  also  take  in  what  they  beheld.  Wherefore  I  pray  you  to  for- 
give me  if  I  have  recounted  more  of  those  things  than  need  be,  who  am 
writing  a  history  of  chivalry  and  of  knightly  daring. 

So  those  two  worthies  sat  there  where  were  the  highlands  at  the  edge 
of  the  forest,  and  gazed  their  fill  down  upon  that  valley,  all  spread  out, 
as  it  were,  upon  a  table  beneath  them,  and  when  they  had  thus  gazed 
their  fill  they  aroused  themselves  from  their  pleasant  contemplations  and 
descended  down  into  that  valley,  riding  along  beside  the  shining  river. 

So  they  followed  the  highway,  and  by  and  by  came  to  where  the  road 
crossed  the  river  by  a  high-arched  bridge  of  stone.  At  that  place  were 
several  houses  of  stone  with  white  walls  that  stood  sheltered  with  great, 


266  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

umbrageous  trees  and  the  walls  of  the  houses  touched  the  edge  of  the 
smooth  and  gently  flowing  river.  Coadjacent  to  this  place  was  a  mill  and 
a  sheet  of  wide-spreading  bright  water  where  were  so  many  swifts,  flitting 
hither  and  thither  above  the  smooth  surface,  that  they  resembled  bees 
flying  about  a  hive  upon  a  warm  day  in  June. 

Now  as  Sir  Sagramore  and  Sir  Percival  approached  that  bridge  afore- 
Sir  Perdvai  said  with  intent  to  cross  it,  they  were  presently  aware  of  an- 
and  sir  Sagra-  other  knight  who  came  toward  them  from  the  other  end 
™ighTa?the  thereof.  And  as  they  went  forward  he  also  came  forward 
bridge.  so  £hat  it  was  likely  that  they  three  would  meet  in  the  midst 

of  the  bridge.  And  they  beheld  that  the  knight  rode  upon  a  great  Flem- 
ish charger  as  black  as  a  coal,  and  that  he  was  of  a  very  noble,  haughty 
appearance,  showing  no  fear  at  their  advance,  though  they  were  two  and  he 
was  but  one.  For  ever  he  rode  forward  very  boldly,  and  with  great  spirit, 
even  though  it  would  bring  him  to  meet  them  in  the  middle  of  the  way. 

There  was  no  device  of  any  sort  upon  the  shield  or  the  armor  of  that 
knight,  for  it  appeared  that  he  was  minded  to  travel  unknown;  so  they 
wist  not  who  he  was,  but  in  his  appearance  they  beheld  that  he  was  strong 
and  big  and  very  lusty. 

Then  as  they  approached  one  another  Sir  Sagramore  bespake  that 
Sir  Sagramore  knight,  saying:  "Sir,  what  mean  you,  coming  so  boldly  thus 
exchanges  against  us?  Would  you  who  are  one  against  two  dispute 

words  with  the        *  £  ,-.     «     .*-  .,«          .,, 

knight  on  the      the  passage  of  this  bridge  with  us? 


To  this  the  other  said:  "  Messire,  I  have  no  mind  to  assume 
any  dispute  with  you;  yet  you  must  be  aware  that  it  would  ill  beseem 
any  one  of  true  knightly  courage  to  draw  aside  and  to  give  you  way.  For, 
as  you  say,  you  are  two  and  I  am  but  one  ;  wherefore,  if  I  should  withdraw 
me  from  this  meeting  it  might  be  that  you  would  impute  a  lack  of  cour- 
age to  me.  So,  meseems,  it  would  be  better  for  you  to  give  way  for  me, 
for  you  could  do  so  without  any  impeachment  of  fear,  whilst  I  would  do  an 
injury  to  the  pure  nobility  of  my  knighthood  if  I  should  give  way  to  you." 

Then  Sir  Sagramore  said:  "  Sir  Knight,  it  need  not  be  that  there  should 
be  two  of  us  against  one.  Let  my  companion  withdraw  to  the  farther 
side  of  the  bridge  and  let  us  two  try  a  fall  together.  So  it  shall  be  decided 
which  of  us  shall  of  a  verity  have  the  right  first  to  cross  this  bridge." 

"Well,"  said  the  stranger  knight,  "that  falleth  in  with  my  will  in  the 
matter;  therefore  let  it  be  as  you  say." 

So,  it  being  thus  decided,  Sir  Percival  drew  away  from  the  bridge  upon 
his  side,  and  those  two  knights-contestant  made  each  himself  ready  for 
combat.  Each  chose  his  station,  and  when  they  were  in  all  wise  pre- 


THEY  MEET  A    KNIGHT   UPON   THE  BRIDGE  267 

pared,  each  set  spur  to  horse  and  shouted  to  the  assault  and  so  dashed 
together  across  the  space  of  bridge,  each  in  a  cloud  of  dust  and  with  a 
noise  like  to  thunder  of  horses'  hoof  beats  upon  the  roadway  of  the  bridge. 

So  they  met  in  the  very  centre  of  the  bridge  with  a  crash  one  might 
heard  a  furlong  or  more  away.     In  that  encounter  the  spear 
of  Sir  Sagramore  broke  into  many  pieces  but  the  spear  of 
the  other  knight  held  so  that  Sir  Sagramore  was  hurtled 
with  great  violence  over  the  crupper  of  his  horse,  and,  strik- 
ing the  ground  with  a  roar  of  falling  armor,  he  lay  there  like  one  who  had 
been  struck  dead. 

Now  Sir  Percival  was  greatly  astonished  to  see  so  potent  a  knight  as  Sir 
Sagramore  thus  overthrown,  wherefore  he  hurried  forward  with  all  speed 
to  where  his  companion  lay  upon  the  ground.  And  Sir  Percival  leaped 
from  his  horse  and  went  to  his  friend  and  found  that  he  was  not  dead  but 
only  stunned  by  the  violence  of  the  fall  he  had  suffered.  For  anon  Sir 
Sagramore  began  to  move  and  to  bestir  himself  and  so,  after  another 
while,  Sir  Percival  was  able  to  raise  him  up  and  set  him  upon  his  feet 
again,  albeit  Sir  Sagramore 's  head  was  as  light  as  a  feather  and  swam 
like  to  running  water. 

Now  all  this  while  that  other  knight  had  been  sitting  very  steadfastly 
observing  Sir  Percival  what  he  was  about.  So  when  he  beheld  that  no 
great  harm  had  befallen  that  knight  whom  he  had  overthrown,  he  spake 
to  Sir  Percival,  saying:  "Sir  Knight,  are  you  satisfied  upon  your  part,  or 
will  you  also  have  to  do  with  me  in  disputing  the  pass  of  this  bridge?" 

"  Sir,"  quoth  Sir  Percival,  "  I  would  fain  have  had  you  go  in  peace,  but 
since  you  have  thus  offered  me  the  chance  of  battle  or  no  battle,  lo!  I 
have  no  such  choice,  but  must  needs  take  this  knight's  quarrel  upon  my- 
self. So  make  you  ready  that  I  may  avenge  his  fall  upon  you." 

Therewith  Sir  Percival  gat  Sir  Sagramore  to  horse  and  cleared  the 
bridge  of  him.  Then  he  mounted  upon  his  own  horse  and  made  him 
ready  for  that  assault  which  he  had  undertaken. 

So  when  he  was  in  all  wise  prepared  and  perceiving  that  his  enemy  was  also 
ready,  he  shouted  to  the  charge  and  therewith  drave  forward  in  the  assault. 

Then  again  those  two  knights-contestant  met  in  the  centre  of  the  bridge 
with  such  a  violence  of  meeting  that  the  spear  of  each  was  broken  into 
splinters  to  the  very  truncheon  thereof.     And  each  would 
have  fallen  before  the  assault  of  the  other  except  that,  with   and  the  strange 
spur  and  bridle-rein,  each  uplifted  his  charger  to  foot  again. 
Thereupon,  having  no  spear  wherewith  to  do  further  battle, 
each  knight  voided  his  saddle  and  each  drew  his  sword  and  made  him 


268  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

ready  for  further  battle.  So  they  came  together  to  assault  afoot,  and 
presently  each  fell  to  lashing  at  the  other  such  violent  buffets  that  the 
sound  thereof  could  be  heard  in  echo  both  far  and  near. 

So  they  fought  for  a  long  time  and  in  that  while  neither  gained  any  ad- 
vantage whatsoever  over  the  other.  But  ever  Sir  Percival  was  more 
and  more  astonished  at  the  valor  and  the  prowess  of  his  enemy,  for,  unless 
it  were  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake,  he  knew  not  of  any  one  in  that  land 
who  might  withstand  his  assault  unless  it  were  his  own  brother,  Sir  Lam- 
orack. 

So  by  and  by  Sir  Percival  stinted  his  battle,  and  he  cried  out,  "  Hold, 
Sir  Knight!"  and  therewith  upon  that  demand  the  other  also  stayed  his 
assault,  and  stood  leaning  upon  his  sword,  panting  from  the  violence  of 
the  battle  he  had  done. 

Then  Sir  Percival  said:  "Sir,  you  assuredly  fight  a  very  wonderful  bat- 
tle, for  I  knew  not  there  was  any  knight  in  this  realm  could  withstand  my 
assault,  unless  it  were  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  or  mine  own  brother  who 
is  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales.  Wherefore  I  much  marvel  who  you  can  be. 
Now  I  pray  you  tell  me,  are  you  Sir  Launcelot,  or  are  you  my  brother, 
Sir  Lamorack?" 

So  spake  Sir  Percival,  and  at  those  words  that  other  knight  cried  out 

in  a  loud  voice:  "What  say  you!    What  say  you!    Who  are 

and Sir°Perci-    you  who  layeth  claim  to  be  brother  to  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales ? 

vai  declare         Know  I  myself  am  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales,  so  that  if  you  are 

themselves.  J  J 

my  brother,  then  you  can  be  none  other  than  that  good 
worthy  knight  Sir  Percival." 

Then  Sir  Percival  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice,  " I  am  indeed  Sir  Percival!" 
and  with  that  he  uplifted  the  umbril  of  his  helmet  and  showed  his  face. 
So  also  Sir  Lamorack  (for  that  other  knight  was  indeed  he)  uplifted  the 
umbril  of  his  helmet  and  showed  his  face. 

Then  when  Sir  Percival  beheld  his  brother's  face  and  wist  that  it  was 
indeed  he  against  whom  he  had  been  doing  battle,  he  cried  out  aloud: 
"  My  brother !  My  brother !  Is  it  indeed  thou  with  whom  I  have  fought ! " 
And  Sir  Lamorack  also  cried  out,  "  My  brother!  My  brother! "  and  there- 
upon each  ran  to  the  other  and  embraced  him  in  his  arms.  And  each 
kissed  the  other  upon  his  cheek  in  great  affection  of  spirit. 

Then  Sir  Lamorack  said:  "My  brother,  I  prithee  tell  me  who  was  that 
knight  whom  I  chanced  to  overthrow  but  now?"  and  Sir  Percival  said, 
"That  was  Sir  Sagramore."  Sir  Lamorack  said:  "That  is  a  great  pity 
that  I  should  have  assaulted  him  and  done  him  a  hurt.  Let  us  now  go 
see  how  he  doeth." 


SIR  PERCIVAL  PARTETH  FROM  SIR  SAGRAMORE  269 

So  they  two  went  together  to  where  Sir  Sagramore  was,  and  they  found 
that  he  was  now  altogether  recovered  from  his  fall.  And  when  Sir  Sag- 
ramore heard  that  it  was  Sir  Lamorack  against  whom  he  had 

_    J  .  ,  Sir  Lamorack 

run  atilt,  he  made  great  exclamation  of  astonishment  and  he    knaweth  sir 
said:  "Hah!     I  am  not  at  all  surprised  that  I  should  have   Sa&ramore* 
met  with  such  a  mishap  as  that  fall  which  I  suffered,  seeing  that  it  was 
thou,  Sir  Lamorack,  against  whom  I  ran  atilt." 

After  that  there  was  much  amicable  talk  betwixt  the  three.  And  after 
they  had  so  talked  for  a  considerable  while,  Sir  Percival  said  to  Sir  Lam- 
orack, "My  brother,  whither  goest  thou?"  To  this  Sir  Lamorack  said: 
"  I  go  to  visit  our  mother  at  the  Priory  of  Saint  Bridget's.  For  wit  you 
it  hath  now  been  three  years  since  either  of  us  hath  seen  her."  Quoth 
Sir  Percival  :  "  Brother,  what  thou  sayst  is  true,  and  I  am  greatly  ashamed 
that  it  should  be  so  long  a  time  since  I  have  beheld  our  mother.  Now  I 
am  of  a  mind  to  go  with  thee  upon  this  errand,  and  I  will  do  so  if  my  com- 
panion, Sir  Sagramore,  is  willing  to  part  company  with  me."  Aiid  Sir 
Lamorack  said,  "  I  pray  you  do  so." 

Then  Sir  Sagramore  said  to  Sir  Percival:  "Sir,  I  would  not  stay  you 
from  your  duty.  Go  you  with  your  brother  in  God's  name  and  think 
naught  of  me."  And  Sir  Percival  said,  "  I  will  do  so." 

So  after  a  little  while  longer  of  friendly  talk,  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lam- 
orack bade  adieu  to  Sir  Sagramore,  and  after  that  the  two 
brothers  betook  their  way  toward  the  Priory  of  St.  Bridget's   and 


as  aforesaid  and  Sir  Sagramore  went  his  way  alone. 

So  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  travelled  upon  their  way 
for  all  that  day,  and  upon  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  they  came  to 
that  place  where  was  the  Priory  of  St.  Bridget.     Then  you  may  suppose 
what  joy  that  noble  lady  prioress,  their  mother,  had  in  be- 
holding her  two  knightly  sons  side  by  side  before  her  once   and  sir  Law- 
more.     For  it  is  recorded  that  when  she  beheld  those  two 
noble  lords  kneeling  upon  the  ground  so  that  she  might  be- 
stow her  blessing  upon  them,  she  wept  very  tenderly  and  said:  "Ah,  my 
dear  sons!    When  your  father  was  slain  he  left  me  four  sons,  of  whom 
twain  were  slain  by  treachery  so  that  now  but  you  two  are  alive."    And 
she  said  :  "  I  pray  God  He  may  take  you  into  His  keeping  and  cherish  you 
in  all  ways  that  be  for  your  good,  so  that  you  may  be  spared  your  lives 
and  not  perish  by  violence  as  did  your  father  and  your  two  brothers." 

After  that  they  three  sat  together  talking  very  tenderly  to  one  another  ; 
and  they  sat  together  far  into  the  night,  so  that  it  was  past  midnight  when 
they  parted  company  to  seek  their  repose.  And  as  they  said  good  night 


27o  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

to  their  mother,  Sir  Percival  said :  "  Before  the  dawn  of  day  cometh,  dear 
mother,  I  must  depart  upon  my  journey  once  more."  And  Sir  Lamorack 
said:  "Is  it  so?  Then  I  must  depart  with  thee,  my  brother,  for  to  keep 
thee  company.'*  At  that  the  lady  prioress  fell  to  weeping,  and  still  weep- 
ing she  kissed  them  both  and  prayed  that  God  might  shield  them  both 
from  sin  and  sorrow;  and  so  they  parted  for  the  night. 

So  it  befell  that  upon  the  first  breaking  of  the  morn,  they  two  took 
horse  and  departed  from  that  place.  And  when  the  lady  prioress  awoke, 
they  were  far  upon  their  way.  Then  when  the  lady,  their  mother,  found 
them  gone,  she  cried  out,  "Alas!  who  would  be  a  mother  to  suffer  such 
partings  as  these!'* 

Now  after  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  had  left  the  Priory  of  St. 
sir  Percival  Bridget's  in  that  wise,  they  rode  side  by  side  through  the 
and  Sir  Lam-  dawning  of  the  day,  what  time  a  thin,  cool  mist  like  to  a  veil 
from  the  of  silver  lay  all  about  the  meadowlands ;  what  time  every  - 

Priory.  where  the  birds  were  singing  their  pretty  matins  with  great 

joy ;  what  time  the  leaves  of  the  trees  rustled  with  the  first  breath  of  the 
coming  day.  Anon  the  sky  grew  bright  like  to  shining  silver,  very  clear 
and  remote,  and  then  anon  uprose  the  glorious  sun  and  sent  his  beams 
across  the  meadowland  and  wold. 

Then  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  drew  rein  and  dismounted  each 
from  his  steed.  Each  turned  his  horse  to  grass  and  then  each  opened 
his  wallet  and  broke  his  fast,  quenching  his  thirst  at  a  forest  fountain 
that  burst  out  of  a  cleft  rock  near  by,  as  clear  as  crystal  and  as  cold  as  ice. 

After  that  they  had  thus  refreshed  themselves  they  took  horse  again 
and  once  more  travelled  onward  as  before. 

Now  about  the  middle  of  the  day,  they  being  then  journeying  in  a 
leafy  woodland,  they  became  aware  of  a  sound  of  lamentation 

Sir  Percival         .  J  .  . 

and  sir  Lam-     in  a  part  oi  the  forest  and  they  wist  that  there  was  in  that 

°vticl  fomenting  placc  some  one  wlao  was  *n  distress.  So  with  one  accord  they 
followed  that  sound  of  lamentation  a  little  to  one  side,  and 
away  from  the  path,  and  so,  by  and  by,  they  came  to  a  certain  open  glade 
of  the  woodlands  where  they  perceived  the  figure  of  a  knight  stretched 
out  upon  the  ground.  And  that  knight  was  covered  with  blood  and  his 
armor  was  cleft  and  broken  as  with  battle.  Beside  the  knight  there  knelt 
an  esquire  clad  all  in  garments  pied  of  red  and  white.  And  as  the  esquire 
thus  kneeled  beside  the  knight  he  wiped  the  face  of  the  knight  continually 
with  a  napkin,  and  ever  made  that  outcry  of  sorrow  which  they  two  had 
heard  from  a  distance. 

Then  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  rode  forward  into  that  glade  and 


THE   TWO   KNIGHTS   FIND   A    WOUNDED   KNIGHT  271 

when  the  esquire  perceived  those  two  strange  knights  corning  toward  him, 
he  arose  and  stood  as  though  not  rightly  knowing  whether  to  flee  away 
or  to  remain  where  he  was.  This  Sir  Lamorack  perceived  and  so  called 
out :  "  Fair  youth,  be  not  afraid,  but  stay  and  tell  us  what  is  this  sad  sight 
which  we  behold,  for  we  are  knights  errant  and  we  mean  ye  well  and  not 
ill." 

So  the  esquire,  perceiving  their  intention  to  be  friendly,  remained  where 
he  was,  and  thereupon  they  two  rode  up  to  him  and  to  where  that  figure 
of  misfortune  lay  stretched  in  his  blood  upon  the  ground.  Then  Sir  Lam- 
orack said:  "  Is  this  noble  knight  living,  or  is  he  dead?"  And  the  esquire 
said,  "Alas,  Messire!  He  is  not  dead,  but  mefeareth  he  is  dying." 

Then  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  dismounted  from  their  horses  and 
they  went  to  where  lay  the  unfortunate  knight  aforesaid.     And  they  ex- 
amined him  to  see  whether  he  were  alive ;  and  for  a  while  they 
thought  that  he  was  dead,  but  after  a  while  they  perceived  and slrTam- 
that  he  was  not  dead,  but  that  he  was  grievously  wounded  orack  ?ufcor ,a 

11         /™  o  •  1     i  •  /•      1  1  •      wounded  knight. 

and  very  nigh  to  death.  Then  Sir  Lamorack  lifted  up  his 
face  and  looked  at  that  esquire,  and  he  said,  "Who  is  this  knight,  and 
how  came  he  here?"  "Messire,"  quoth  the  esquire,  "I  will  tell  you  all. 
This  is  a  very  worthy  knight  hight  Sir  Tarn.  He  and  his  lady  with  only 
myself  in  attendance  were  riding  this  morning  through  this  part  of  the 
forest  with  intent  to  go  to  the  castle  of  a  brother  of  Sir  Tarn's.  Right 
as  we  rode  thus,  there  met  us  a  very  cruel  and  savage  knight  of  these 
marches  hight  Sir  Godwin.  This  Sir  Godwin  had  with  him  several  armed 
men  and  these  fell  upon  my  lord  and  his  lady,  and  him  they  struck  down 
with  many  dolorous  blows  and  left  for  dead  and  her  they  have  led  cap- 
tive away  with  them.  As  for  me,  I  escaped  from  their,  hands  into  the 
thick  woodlands  and  after  they  had  gone  I  returned  hither  to  lend  such 
aid  as  I  might  to  my  sad,  unfortunate  lord." 

"  Ha! "  said  Sir  Lamorack,  "  this  is  a  very  sorry  story  and  that  is  indeed 
a  wicked  and  unkindly  knight  who  treated  thy  lord  in  this  wise.  Well 
do  I  know  this  Sir  Godwin,  for  I  slew  his  brother,  Sir  Gaudelin,  for  such 
another  piece  of  mischief  as  this  of  which  thou  complainest."  And  Sir 
Lamorack  said  to  Sir  Percival :  "  Brother,  let  us  put  this  good  knight  to 
such  ease  and  comfort  as  we  may,  and  then  let  us  go  to  the  castle  of  Sir 
Godwin  and  succor  that  lady  of  Sir  Tarn  whom  he  hath  taken  away  cap- 
tive." And  Sir  Percival  also  said,  "  Let  us  do  so." 

So  they  two  dismounted  from  their  horses  and,  with  the  help  of  that 
esquire  they  eased  Sir  Tarn  of  his  armor.  After  that  they  searched  his 
wounds  and  bathed  them  from  the  waters  of  a  near-by  fountain  of  the 


272  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

forest.  And  they  bound  up  those  wounds  with  such  bandages  as  they 
had  at  hand  and  so  brought  all  the  ease  and  comfort  they  were  able  to  the 
wounded  man.  So  anon  Sir  Tarn  opened  his  eyes  and  sighed,  and  anon 
he  moved  and  upraised  himself  upon  his  elbow. 

Then  Sir  Lamorack  said :  "  Lie  still,  Sir  Tarn,  and  move  not  for  this  while 
and  until  thou  art  better  than  thou  now  art.  And  take  comfort  to  thy- 
self, for  I  am  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales  and  this  is  my  brother,  Sir  Percival 
of  Gales,  and  presently  we  go  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Godwin  for  to  succor 
thy  lady  and  to  bring  her  to  thee  again.  For  indeed  I  have  great  faith 
that  God  will  be  with  us  in  that  undertaking,  and  that  we  shall  bring  you 
peace  of  soul  as  we  have  brought  you  comfort  of  body." 

So  Sir  Lamorack  comforted  Sir  Tarn,  and  after  that  they  bade  the 
wounded  man  adieu  for  the  time  and  so  left  him  and  departed  thence, 
betaking  their  way  to  the  castle  of  Sir  Godwin. 

So  after  a  while  they  perceived  the  castle  of  Sir  Godwin  where  it  was  in 
sir  Percival  the  midst  of  the  woodland.  And  they  came  close  to  the  castle 
and  sir  Lam-  an(j  when  they  were  very  near  they  dismounted  from  their  horses 
'a*  castle  of  and  tied  the  bridles  each  to  a  sapling.  After  that  they  two 
Sir  Godwin.  went  up  to  the  gate  of  the  castle  and  demanded  admission. 

Then  presently  the  porter  came  to  the  gate  and  looked  forth  at  them 
through  the  wicket,  and  he  said:  "Who  are  ye  that  demand  admission, 
and  what  is  your  business? "  Sir  Lamorack  said :  "  We  be  two  knights  who 
come  to  demand  of  Sir  Godwin  full  satisfaction  for  the  wounding  of  Sir 
Tarn  and  to  demand  that  the  lady  of  Sir  Tarn  be  set  free  from  durance." 

So  spake  Sir  Lamorack,  and  thereat  the  porter  laughed  and  said :  "  Cer- 
tes,  ye  be  mad,  or  else  ye  be  two  fearless  men  to  come  thus  upon  such  an 
errand."  Therewith  he  shut  the  wicket  and  went  away.  And  he  went 
to  where  Sir  Godwin  was  and  told  him  how  those  two  knights  had  come 
thither  and  what  was  their  business. 

When  Sir  Godwin  heard  that  message  he  also  laughed  and  he  said  to 
the  porter:  "Go  thou  and  admit  these  two  knights,  and  when  they  have 
entered  the  courtyard  do  thou  shut  to  the  gate  after  them.  So  we  will 
have  them  catched  as  in  a  trap.  After  that  we  may  deal  with  them  as  we 
please." 

So  the  porter  did  as  Sir  Godwin  commanded;  he  went  and  opened  the 
Sir  Percival  gates  to  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  and  he  said,  "  Come 

"wc^entZlhc     in!"    and   When    they   Were    within    the    castle    he    snut    to    the 

castle  of  sir       gate  again  so  that  they  might  not  go  forth  until  they  of  the 

castle  chose  to  let  them  out  again.     And  at  that  time  Sir 

Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  were  in  a  courtyard  of  the  castle  and  there 


SIR  PERCIVAL  AND  SIR  LAMORACK  FIGHT  AGAINST  ODDS  273 

was  no  way  whereby  they  might  escape  from  that  place  upon  any  side, 
for  all  the  doors  and  passes  were  closed  against  them. 

Anon  came  Sir  Godwin,  the  lord  of  the  castle,  clad  all  in  full  armor. 
And  he  appeared  at  a  balcony  that  overlooked  the  courtyard  beneath, 
and  he  said:  "Who  are  ye  who  come  hither,  meddling  with  that  which 
concerns  you  not?" 

Him  answered  Sir  Lamorack  very  boldly :  "  Thou  wicked  and  unworthy 
knight!  Know  thou  that  I  am  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales,  and  that  I  am  he 
who  slew  thy  brother,  Sir  Gaudelin,  for  such  an  offence  as  this  that  thou 
hast  this  morning  committed.  I  and  my  brother,  Sir  Percival,  are  come 
hither  with  intent  to  punish  thee  for  the  evil  thing  which  thou  hast  done 
this  morning,  for  we  will  not  suffer  that  such  things  shall  be  done  as 
thou  doest.  For  those  were  like  the  deeds  that  thy  brother  did  and  for 
them  he  died.  So  repent  thee  or  his  fate  shall  presently  be  thy  fate  also 
unless  thou  dost  presently  repent  and  make  amends  for  the  injury  thou 
hast  done." 

So  spake  Sir  Lamorack,  and  at  that  speech  Sir  Godwin  was  so  filled 
with  rage  that  it  was  as  though  all  the  light  of  heaven  turned  red  before 
his  eyes.  For  a  while  he  could  not  speak  because  of  that  rage,  and  then 
by  and  by  he  cried  out:  "Hah!  Hah!  Art  thou  indeed  Sir  Lamorack 
who  slew  my  brother?  Now  I  am  right  glad  of  that.  Make  thine  orisons, 
for  this  night  thou  shalt  assuredly  sup  in  Paradise  with  thy  brother  for 
company." 

Therewith  he  departed  and  was  gone,  and  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack 
knew  not  what  was  to  happen  next.     Then,  after  a  while,  a  door  of  the 
castle  was  suddenly  opened  upon  the  courtyard  and  a  score  or  more  of 
full-armed  men  rushed  very  violently  into  the  space  where   5,>  Godwin  a/- 
Sir Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  were.     At  that  same  time  an-   J^Jjj^^" 
other  door  was  opened  upon  the  other  side  of  the  courtyard    Lamorack  in 
and  thereupon  there  rushed  in  Sir  Godwin  and  other  armed   ^orce- 
men.     All  of  these  ran  forward  and  flung  themselves  upon  Sir  Lamorack 
and  Sir  Percival  with  intent  to  overthrow  them  by  dint  of  numbers. 

But  when  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  were  aware  of  their  coming, 
they  straightway  set  themselves  back  to  back  and  each  whirled  his  bright 
shining  sword  about  his  head  so  that  it  flashed  like  lightning.  Then  there 
befell  a  great  battle  in  that  narrow  courtyard,  many  against  two.  Yet 
ever  those  two  bare  themselves  very  valiantly  so  that  in  a  little  space  of 
time  there  were  six  or  ten  men  lying  groaning  upon  the  ground,  and  the 
pavement  of  the  courtyard  was  become  all  slippery  with  blood.  Yea;  so 
great  was  the  terror  that  those  two  spread  about  them  that  in  a  little 


274  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

while  they  who  assaulted  them  drew  away  from  the  death  that  was  meas- 
ured out  to  those  who  were  nearest  to  the  two. 

So,  for  a  while,  there  came  a  pause  in  that  battle,  and  in  that  pause 
Sir  Lamorack  perceived  where  Sir  Godwin  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  castle 
folk,  urging  them  to  the  attack.  Thereat  of  a  sudden  the  madness  of 
battle  fell  upon  Sir  Lamorack,  so  that  he  waited  not  for  another  assault, 
but,  shouting  aloud,  he  ran  at  his  enemy,  whirling  his  sword  about  his 
head.  At  that  fierce  attack  the  castle  folk  scattered  from  before  him  like 
to  chaff  before  the  wind,  and  so  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Godwin  stood  face 
to  face  with  no  one  to  stay  Sir  Lamorack  in  his  assault.  Then  Sir  Lamorack 
whirled  his  sword  and  smote  such  a  buffet  that  though  Sir  Godwin  took  that 
buffet  upon  his  shield,  yet  his  wits  melted  away  from  him  because  of  the 
blow  he  had  received.  Then  his  defences  fell  low  before  him,  his  head  hung 
upon  his  breast,  he  staggered,  and  his  thighs  trembled  with  weakness.  Then 
Sir  Lamorack  ^e  cr^ec^  ou^'  "Mercy!  Mercy!"  saying  those  words  twice 
siayeth  sir  over.  But  Sir  Lamorack  would  not  hear  him,  but  lifting  up 
his  sword  he  smote  Sir  Godwin  again,  and  with  that  second 
stroke  Sir  Godwin  fell  down  upon  his  knees  to  the  ground.  Then  Sir 
Lamorack  rushed  off  the  helmet  of  Sir  Godwin  and  he  catched  Sir  God- 
win's head  by  the  hair  and  drew  his  neck  forward.  And  he  whirled  up  his 
sword  and  he  smote  Sir  Godwin's  head  from  his  body  so  that  it  rolled  down 
upon  the  stones  of  the  courtyard. 

Now  when  the  followers  of  Sir  Godwin  beheld  how  their  master  was 
slain  they  were  seized  with  a  great  terror  of  death  insomuch  that  they 
crowded  away  to  the  extremities  of  the  courtyard  like  to  rats  caught 
in  a  pit.  And  they  held  up  their  hands  and  cried  aloud,  "Mercy! 
Mercy!" 

Then  Sir  Lamorack,  panting  for  breath  from  his  fight  and  leaning  upon 
his  sword,  said,  "Take  your  mercy."  And  he  said,  "Where  is  the  major 
of  this  castle?"  They  say,  "We  will  get  him  for  you,  lord,"  and  there- 
with several  ran  upon  that  errand.  Anon  they  came  bringing  a  fat  old 
man  all  trembling  and  quaking  with  fear.  This  fat  old  man  kneeled  down 
before  Sir  Lamorack,  and  Sir  Lamorack  said,  "  Art  thou  the  major  of  this 
place?"  And  he  said,  "Yea,  Messire."  Sir  Lamorack  said,  "What  cap- 
tives have  ye  here?"  to  the  which  the  major  replied,  "There  be  seven 
captives,  and  four  of  those  seven  are  ladies."  Sir  Lamorack  said,  "  Take  us 
to  them." 

So  upon  the  command  of  Sir  Lamorack  the  major  arose  from  his  knees, 
trembling  with  fear.  And  he  conducted  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival 
to  the  keep  of  the  castle  and  to  the  secret  dungeons  that  were  within  the 


SIR  LAMORACK  BURNETH   THE  CASTLE  275 

keep.     There  they  found  and  liberated  those  seven  poor  and  miserable 
creatures  who  were  held  prisoners  in  that  place. 

Amongst  those  ladies  who  were  captive  was  the  lady  of  Sir  Tarn,  and 
amongst  the  knights  who  were  captive  was  Sir  Percivant  of    Sir  Lamorack 
Hind.     All  these  seven  captives  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Per-   liberates  the 
cival  liberated  and  they  gave  great  praise  and  loud  acclaim   castle  caP™es- 
to  those  two  most  worthy  champions  who  had  set  them  free  from  their 
piteous  and  miserable  durance. 

Then  Sir  Lamorack  said,  "Where  is  the  treasure  of  this  castle?"  and  in 
obedience  to  that  command,  the  major  conducted  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir 
Percival  to  the  treasure-house.  There  they  found  twelve  great  chests 
full  of  treasure,  which  same  Sir  Godwin  had  gathered  by  murder  and 
robbery  and  rapine. 

Then  Sir  Lamorack  said :  "  Let  this  treasure  be  divided  equally  amongst 
these  captives  so  that  they  may  be  recompensed  for  all  the  misery  they 
have  suffered." 

So  it  was  done  as  he  commanded  and  thus  it  was  that  those  who  had 
been  so  sad  in  captivity  were  made  glad  in  their  liberation.  Nor  would  Sir 
Lamorack  take  any  of  that  treasure  for  himself;  otherwise  he  gave  it  all 
to  those  who  had  suffered  so  much  at  the  hands  of  Sir  Godwin. 

Then  after  all  this  was  accomplished,  it  being  then  come  eventide,  Sir 
Lamorack  said :  "  Let  every  living  soul  quit  this  place,  for  it  is  a  den  of 
thieves,  and  shall  no  longer  be  permitted  to  stand  stone  upon  stone." 

So  all  they  of  the  castle  came  and  stood  without  the  walls,  both  young 
and  old,  strong  and  weak,  man  and  woman,  the  sick  and  the  well.     And 
when  all  had  thus  come  forth,  Sir  Lamorack  gave  command   sir  Lamorack 
that  torches  should  be  set  here  and  there  to  the  castle.     So  it    setteth  fire  to 
was  done  according  to  that  command,  and  in  a  little  while    ' 
all  that  castle  was  in  a  flame  of  fire,  so  that  the  falling  night  was  made 
bright  with  the  illumination  thereof. 

In  the  light  of  that  illumination  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  rode 
away  with  the  lady  of  Sir  Tarn.  And  they  brought  the  lady  to  where  the 
wounded  man  lay — and  he  had  then  recovered  his  strength  in  a  great  meas- 
ure and  was  in  a  way  of  regaining  his  life  and  his  health  once  more. 

So  a  pavilion  was  set  up  over  Sir  Tarn  and  after  he  was  in  all  wise  made 
comfortable,  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Lamorack  departed  from  that  place  and 
went  upon  their  way,  riding  through  the  night  and  all  enwrapped  around 
about  by  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  of  the  woodlands. 

Thus  it  was  that  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  met  at  that  bridge  in 


276  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

the  valley;  thus  they  visited  together  their  mother,  the  prioress  of  St. 
Bridget's  Priory;  thus  they  destroyed  that  nest  of  thieves,  and  thus  they 
departed  once  more  upon  their  way. 

And  now  followeth  the  story  of  how  Sir  Percival  met  Sir  Ector  de  Mans ; 
of  how  Sir  Percival  joined  company  with  Sir  Ector ;  of  how  they  discovered  a 
certain  very  wonderful  isle  in  a  lake  of  clear  water,  and  of  how  Sir  Ector  had 
to  do  with  a  certain  knight  who  was  the  champion  of  that  island  aforesaid. 


ir  Pecciuat  and  Sir  Ectoc  looft 
upon  flje  Isle  of  Joy: 


^ViV^^t*^Si2^>^^^^^^V 


Chapter   Second 


How  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  de  Marts  came  to  a  very  wonder- 
ful place  where  was  a  castle  in  the  midst  of  a  lake. 

THAT  night  Sir  Lamorack  and  Sir  Percival  lay  in  the  woodlands, 
each    wrapped    in    his   cloak,   and  each    sleeping   very  soundly 
after  all  the  travails  of  the  day.    And  when  the  next  morning  had 
come  Sir  Percival  awoke  a  little  before  the  dawning  of  the  day  and  Sir 
Lamorack  still  slept. 

Then  Sir  Percival  bethought  him  that  he  must  again'depart  in  quest  of 
Sir  Launcelot  and  that  his  brother,  Sir  Lamorack,  was  not  upon  that  quest. 
So  he  rose  very  softly  and  he  went  aside  and   donned  his    Sir  Percival 
armor  so  quietly  that  he  did  not  disturb  his  brother's  slum-   l^m&rack 
bers.     After  he  had  thus  donned  his  armor,  he  took  horse  and    asleep. 
rode  alone  into  the  forest,  leaving  Sir  Lamorack  still  asleep  where  he  lay. 

And  Sir  Percival  traversed  that  woodland  for  a  long  while,  not  knowing 
whither  he  went,  but  trusting  ever  to  God  to  bring  him  out  thence  all  in 
good  time.  So  as  he  journeyed  he  came  about  the  prime  of  day  to  a  cer- 
tain open  place  where  there  was  a  crossroad  and  a  wayside  shrine  and  a 
little  chapel.  And  as  Sir  Percival  drew  nigh  to  this  place,  he  beheld  that 
a  knight  in  shining  armor  was  kneeling  at  that  wayside  shrine,  reciting  his 
orisons. 

Beside  the  kneeling  knight  there  stood  a  noble  dapple-gray  war-horse, 
and  the  spear  of  the  knight  leaned  against  the  bole  of  a  near-by  oak  tree, 
and  the  shield  of  the  knight  hung  suspended  to  the  spear.    Sir  Percival 
And  the  knight  wore  neither  helm  nor  bascinet,  wherefore    meets  with  sir 
Sir  Percival  could  see  his  face  and  so  could  know  who  he  was.    Ecto 
And  Sir  Percival  knew  that  the  knight  who  kneeled  there  was  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  the  brother  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake. 

Now  though  Sir  Ector  heard  the  sound  of  the  footsteps  of  the  horse  as 
Sir  Percival  drew  nigh,  yet  he  neither  ceased  his  orisons  nor  turned  his  head, 
but  ever  continued  very  steadfastly  to  recite  his  prayers.  And  so  Sir 


28o  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Percival  drew  rein  at  a  little  distance  and  waited  until  Sir  Ector  was  don 
his  prayers,  nor  did  he  disturb  the  kneeling  knight  in  any  wise  until  h 
had  crossed  himself  and  arisen  to  his  feet. 

Then  Sir  Percival  said,  "This  is  well  met,  Sir  Ector,"  and  because  th 
umbril  of  Sir  Percival's  helmet  was  uplifted,  Sir  Ector  knew  him  and  so  h 
said,  giving  him  greeting,  "Well  met  indeed,  Sir  Percival." 

Therewith  Sir  Percival  dismounted  from  his  horse,  and  he  came  to  Si 
Ector  and  clasped  Sir  Ector  in  his  arms,  and  each  kissed  the  other  upo: 
the  cheek  as  though  they  had  been  brothers. 

After  that  they  went  a  little  to  one  side  and  sat  them  down  in  the  sof 
long  grass  of  the  wayside  and  beneath  the  shadow  of  a  wide-spreadin 
tree. 

Then  Sir  Percival  said  to  Sir  Ector:  "Sir,  hast  thou  any  news  of  th; 
brother,  Sir  Launcelot?"  And  Sir  Ector  said:  "Nay,  I  have  no  news  c 
him,  but  I  had  hoped  that  you  might  have  news." 

Sir  Percival  said,  "I  have  no  news,"  and  he  said,  "Do  you  still  go  ii 
quest  of  that  noble  and  gentle  knight  your  brother?"  And  Sir  Ector  said 
"Yea."  Sir  Percival  said:  "  So  do  I  go  upon  that  quest,  and  I  would  fail 
that  we  might  travel  somewhile  together  for  the  sake  of  companionship.' 
And  Sir  Ector  said:  " So  also  would  I  wish  it  to  be." 

Now  as  they  thus  talked  there  came  the  hermit  of  that  chapel  to  then 
where  they  sat,  and  he  said  to  them:  "Messires,  will  ye  not  break  brea( 
with  me  ere  ye  depart  from  this  place?"  Whereunto  they  said:  "Yea 
gladly  will  we  do  so." 

So  they  all  went  together  to  the  hermit's  cell,  and  therewith  he  prepare( 
for  them  such  food  as  he  had  at  his  dwelling-place;  to  wit,  sweet  browi 
bread,  with  honey  of  the  forest  and  berries  freshly  gathered  from  th< 
thickets.  So  those  two  noble  knights  ate  with  great  appetite  and  wer< 
fully  refreshed  and  their  hunger  stayed. 

Then,  after  they  had  thus  eaten  their  fill,  they  gave  many  thanks  to  th< 
good  man  for  their  refreshment  and  so  departed  from  that  pleasant  place 
Sir  Percival  riding  side  by  side  together,  talking  in  pleasant  discourse,  anc 

'ride  to'efhe'r"  n°W  and  then  chanting  a  bit  'of  song>  either  one  alone  or  botl 
together.  Meantime  the  warm  sun  shone  very  brightly,  flicker 
ing  ever  and  anon  through  the  leaves  and  blazing  of  a  sudden  with  a  quicl 
and  wonderful  glory  as  it  catched  upon  the  polished  plates  of  thei: 
armor. 

In  this  wise  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  travelled  and  by  and  by  the] 
came  out  of  that  forest.  And  they  travelled  for  several  days,  until  at  las 
they  one  day  came  to  a  certain  place  whence  they  overlooked  a  valley 


SIR  PERCIVAL   AND   SIR   ECTOR   BEHOLD   A   FAIR    VALLEY     281 

Here  they  drew  rein  upon  the  heights  and  looked  down  into  that  valley, 
and  they  beheld  that  it  was  a  very  fair  place.  And  in  the  midst 
thereof  they  beheld  that  there  was  a  lake  of  water,  wonderfully  a 
clear  and  very  blue  and  tranquil,  as  it  were  a  part  of  the  bright  ^^  a  fair 
shining  sky  that  lay  within  the  cup  of  that  valley.  And  they 
beheld  that  in  the  midst  of  the  lake  there  was  an  island,  and  that  upon  the 
island  there  stood  a  castle,  very  tall  and  stately,  and  with  many  tall  roofs 
of  tile  that  shone  all  red  like  to  several  separate  flames  of  fire  against  the 
mild  blue  sky  behind.  And  they  beheld  that  there  was  a  little  town  of 
houses  of  stone  and  brick  not  far  away  from  that  castle,  and  they  beheld 
that  the  rest  of  the  island  was  very  fertile  and  green,  like  to  a  pure  emerald 
of  bright  fertility.  And  they  beheld  that  there  were  several  groves  and 
plantations  of  trees  and  of  fruit-trees  at  several  places  upon  the  island,  so 
that,  what  with  this  and  what  with  that,  it  was  like  a  fragment  of  paradise 
planted  in  that  place. 

All  these  they  beheld,  as  it  were,  upon  the  palm  of  the  hand.  And  after 
they  had  gazed  for  a  while,  Sir  Ector  said:  "Methinks  that  yonder  is  as 
fair  a  place  as  ever  I  saw  in  all  of  my  life.  Now  let  us  descend  thither- 
ward and  let  us  seek  to  discover  to  what  noble  lord  yonder  island  castle 
belongeth."  To  the  which  Sir  Percival  said,  "That  meeteth  altogether 
my  wishes." 

So  thereupon  those  two  rode  down  into  that  valley  and  so  came  to  the 
margin  of  the  lake.  And  they  beheld  that  the  waters  of  the  lake  were  as 
clear  as  crystal  and  that  all  around  the  lake  was  a  strand  of  yellow  pebbles 
that  appeared  like  pebbles  of  gold  in  the  sunlight,  wherefore  it  was  as 
though  that  lake  was  altogether  surrounded  with  the  ring  of  gold.  And 
beyond  this  strand  of  pebbles  were  meadows  of  long  grass  and  ..of  flowers, 
and  chiefly  these  flowers  were  daffodils. 

So  those  two  knights  proceeded  along  that  golden  strand,  all  in  the 
shining  sunlight,  until,  by  and  by,  they  came  to  a  certain  part        Percival 
of  the  lake  that  was  nighest  to  the  castle.     And  the  island   and  Sir  Ector 
at  that  point  sloped  very  gently  down  to  the  water,  and  as   r^^^ 
these  two  knights  gazed  across  the  waters  they  saw  how  that 
a  wide,  smooth  meadow  lay  betwixt  the  castle  and  the  waters  of  the  lake, 
and  that  the  meadow  was  besprinkled  with  an  incredible  number  of  bright 
daffodil  flowers  like  to  the  meadows  upon  the  other  side  of  that  strand 
of  pebbles.     And  they  perceived  that  there  was  a  lady  standing  deep  in 
the  long  grass  of  the  meadow  and  in  the  midst  of  the  flowers,  and  they 
saw  that  she  wore  many  ornaments  of  gold  set  with  jewels  and  that  she 
carried  a  sparrow-hawk  upon  her  wrist. 


282  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Then  Sir  Percival  called  to  that  lady  across  the  water,  saying,  "  Lady 
what  is  this  castle  and  who  is  the  lord  thereof?"     To  this  th< 
lady  also  called  out  in  reply  (speaking  in  a  voice  that  wa; 
lady  of  Joyous    WOnderfully  high  and  clear),  saying:  "This  is  hight  the  Joy 
ous  Isle  and  yonder  is  the  castle  of  Joyous  Isle,  and  the  lore 
of  the  castle  is  a  very  noble  knight  hight,  Le  Chevalier  Half  ait.     We  o 
this  castle  are  exceedingly  proud  of  that  knight,  holding  him  to  be  th< 
most  noble  champion  in  all  of  the  world.     For  there  have  been  severa 
tournaments  and  jousts  held  in  these  marches,  and  in  non< 

U/  tne  citam- 

pion  of  Joyous  of  them  hath  any  one  been  able  to  stand  against  our  knight 
Isle'  And  many  knights  have  come  hither  at  different  times  to  tn 

an  adventure  against  our  knight,  but  all  these  hath  he  overthrown  witl 
wonderful  skill  and  strength." 

Thus  spake  that  lady;  and  to  her  Sir  Percival  said:  "Certes,  lady,  thi 
must  be  a  very  noble  knight  according  to  your  accounting.  Now  I  pra] 
you  tell  me  how  came  so  puissant  a  knight  as  that  into  this  remote  place?' 

Quoth  she :  "  I  cannot  rightly  tell  you  that,  only  I  know  that  he  cam< 
hither  as  a  madman  and  that  he  was  healed  of  his  madness,  and  that  hi 
was  wedded  to  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  this  country,  who  is  one  of  th 
most  beautiful  ladies  in  the  world,  and  that  since  then  he  hath  been  living 
here  at  Joyous  Isle." 

Then  Sir  Percival  said :  "  Lady,  we  came  not  hither  upon  any  such  ad 
venture  as  that  of  trying  the  skill  of  your  champion,  but  what  you  inforn 
us  concerning  him  giveth  me  a  great  appetite  to  try  of  what  mettle  he  is 
Now  I  pray  you  tell  me,  how  may  I  come  at  this  knight  so  as  to  adventur 
myself  against  him." 

At  this  the  lady  laughed,  and  she  said :  "  Messire,  if  such  be  your  wish 
you  will  find  yourself  very  welcome  at  this  place.  If  you  would  come  a 
this  adventure,  you  must  travel  by  the  margin  of  the  lake  a  little  farthe 
upon  the  way  you  are  going  and  until  you  have  come  to  that  part  of  th 
lake  that  is  back  of  the  castle.  There  you  will  find  a  ferryman  and  hi 
two  sons.  Make  your  want  known  to  this  ferryman  and  he  will  take  yoi 
into  his  boat  and  will  ferry  both  you  and  your  two  horses  across  the  wate 
of  the  lake  so  that  you  may  come  to  the  other  side." 

So  spake  the  lady;  and  after  that  Sir  Percival  gave  her  gramercy  an< 
therewith  he  and  Sir  Ector  took  their  departure.  And  so  they  travellec 
some  little  while  by  the  margin  of  the  lake  as  the  lady  with  the  sparrow 
hawk  had  directed,  and  by  and  by  they  came  to  that  part  of  the  lake  tha 
was  back  of  the  castle.  Here  they  beheld  a  vessel  such  as  the  lady  ha( 
described,  and  they  beheld  a  hut  beside  the  margin  of  the  lake ;  and  whei 


SIR   PERCIVAL  PASSES   TO    THE  ISLAND   OF  JOY  283 

they  called  there  came  forth  out  of  the  hut  the  ferryman  and  two  others 
who  were  his  sons.  Of  these  Sir  Percival  made  demand  that  they  should 
transport  him  across  the  lake  to  the  island  and  thereupon  the  ferryman 
immediately  prepared  to  do  so. 

Then  Sir  Percival  said  to  Sir  Ector :  "Sir,  I  pray  you  of  your  courtesy 
for  one  thing,"  and  Sir  Ector  said,  "What  is  that?"  Sir  Percival  said: 
"  I  pray  you  that  you  will  abide  here  and  let  me  undertake  this  adventure 
alone.  For  I  would  not  have  it  that  two  of  us  together  should  go  forth 
against  this  one  knight.  And  indeed  I  have  great  hope  that  I  may  be 
successful  in  this,  even  though  I  go  thus  alone,  wherefore  it  is  that  I  pray 
you  of  your  courtesy  that  you  will  abide  here,  and  patiently  await  my 
return." 

So  spake  Sir  Percival,  and  Sir  Ector  said :  "  Messire,  let  it  be  as  you  say 
and  I  will  even  abide  here  at  this  place  and  await  your  return.  And  if 
you  should  fail  in  that  which  you  undertake,  then  will  I  also  essay  this 
adventure  to  discover  if  I  may  meet  with  better  success." 

So  therewith  Sir  Percival  entered  the  boat,  and  the  ferryman  and  his 
two  sons  also  entered  it,  and  they  bent  to  their  oars  and  in   Sir  perc^vai 
a  little  while  they  had  rowed  Sir  Percival  across  the  water   passeth  to 
to  the  island  that  lay  upon  the  farther  side. 

Then  when  Sir  Percival  had  safely  come  to  the  island  in  that  wise,  he 
rode  up  toward  the  castle  through  that  very  pleasant  meadow  aforetold 
of,  and  so  came  to  the  castle  gateway.  Here  he  beheld  a  bugle  horn 
hanging  by  a  chain.  Then  he  took  that  bugle  horn  into  his  hands  and 
blew  upon  it  until  the  walls  of  the  castle  rang  with  the  sound  thereof. 
Anon,  in  answer  to  that  blast,  there  came  the  porter  of  that  castle  and 
looked  at  Sir  Percival  through  the  wicket  of  the  gate.  And  the  porter 
said:  " Messire,  what  would  you  have  of  us  of  this  castle?" 

Quoth  Sir  Percival :  "  Good  man,  I  have  heard  news  of  the  great  prowess 
of  the  knight-champion  of  this  castle,  and  so  I  have  come  hither  to  make 
a  better  acquaintance  of  that  prowess.  Now  I  pray  you  to  go  to  him  and 
to  tell  him  that  there  hath  come  an  errant  knight  who  would  fain  do  bat- 
tle with  him  in  a  friendly  tilt  if  so  be  he  will  come  forth  hither  without 
the  castle  and  meet  me  in  the  meadow  that  lieth  beneath  the  walls.  For 
that  meadow  is  a  pleasant  place,  smooth  and  level,  where  two  knights 
may  have  great  joy  in  running  atilt  in  friendly  contest." 

"Messire,"  quoth  the  porter,  "it  needs  not  that  the  knight  of  this  castle 
should  come  forth  out  of  the  castle  to  meet  you.  For  inside  of  this  castle 
is  a  very  pleasant  tilt  yard,  and  there  is  a  gallery  around  about  the  tilt 
yard  whence  the  lords  and  ladies  of  this  place  may  view  the  contest  be- 


2g4  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

tween  you  and  our  knight.  Wherefore,  I  pray  you  enter  and  take  no 
fear,  for  you  will  be  very  well  received  at  this  place." 

"I  give  you  gramercy,"  said  Sir  Percival,  "and  I  find  that  this  is  in- 
deed a  very  gentle  and  kindly  place  whereunto  I  have  come.  So  I  pray 
you  give  me  way  and  I  will  enter  as  you  desire  me  to  do." 

So  anon  the  portcullis  of  the  castle  was  raised  and  the  drawbridge  was 
let  fall  and  thereupon  Sir  Percival  rode  forward  across  the 
drawbridge  and  entered  the  castle  and  the  courtyard  thereof, 
castle  of  the  iron  hoofs  of  his  horse  sounding  very  loud  and  noisy  upon 

the  stones  of  the  pavement. 

Then  immediately  there  came  several  esquires  running  to  him  and 
asked  of  him  what  was  his  will  and  why  he  had  come  to  that  place.  Sir 
Percival  told  them  what  he  would  have,  and  that  he  would  have  a  friendly 
contest  of  arms  with  the  knight  of  that  place;  whereunto  the  esquires 
said,  "  It  shall  be  as  you  desire." 

So  two  of  those  esquires  ran  to  find  the  knight  of  the  castle  to  tell  him 
how  that  a  challenger  was  come  to  run  atilt  against  him,  and  meantime 
several  other  esquires  led  Sir  Percival's  horse  to  the  tilt  yard  of  the  castle 
and  others  still  again  brought  him  a  cup  of  fair  spiced  wine  for  his  re- 
freshment. Anon  the  folk  of  the  castle  began  to  gather  in  the  balcony 
that  overlooked  the  tilt  yard,  and  Sir  Percival,  casting  upward  his  eyes 
toward  those  who  gathered  there,  beheld  that  that  was  as  fair  a  court  of 
chivalry  as  ever  had  looked  down  upon  any  battle  that  he  had  fought  in 
all  of  his  life. 

After  that,  and  by  and  by,  there  came  the  knight-champion  of  the  castle, 
riding  into  the  farther  extremity  of  the  tilt  yard,  and  when  Sir  Percival 
looked  upon  him  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  hardly  ever  seen  so  noble 
and  haughty  a  figure  as  that  castle  champion  presented. 

Then  straightway  those  two  knights  prepared  each  himself  for  the  en- 
counter, and  when  they  were  in  all  ways  made  ready  the  marshal  of  the 
lists  came  forward  and  proclaimed  the  conditions  of  battle — that  it  was 
to  be  ahorseback  or  afoot  as  the  knights-contestant  chose.  After  that 
proclamation  the  marshal  withdrew  a  little  to  one  side.  Then  he  called 
upon  those  knights  to  make  them  ready.  Then  in  another  little  while, 
sir  Percival  and  beholding  that  they  were  both  ready  in  all  wise,  he  blew 
witf  fa'lham-  a  *oud  klast  uP°n  ms  trumpet,  whereupon  in  an  instant  they 
pion  of  Joy-  quitted  each  his  post  and  launched  the  one  against  the  other 
ous  isle.  iike  to  two  fouiig  mshing  together  in  a  charge.  So  they  two 

met  in  the  midst  of  the  course  with  such  an  uproar  of  encounter  that  the 
ears  of  those  who  stood  near  by  were  stunned  with  the  noise  thereof. 


SIR  PERCIVAL  JOUSTS  WITH  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  ISLE   285 

In  that  encounter  each  knight  splintered  his  lance  to  the  very  butt 
thereof,  and  at  the  violence  of  the  blow  that  each  gave  the  other,  the 
horse  of  each  tottered  back  upon  his  haunches  and  would  have  fallen  but 
for  the  address  of  the  knight  rider,  who  quickly  recovered  him  with  spur 
and  voice  and  rein. 

Then  each  knight  voided  his  saddle  and  leaped  to  the  ground,  and  each 
drew  his  sword  from  its  sheath  for  an  encounter  afoot.  Then  flashed 
their  swords  like  lightning  in  the  sunlight,  and  blow  followed  blow  with 
such  great  spirit  and  good  will  that  the  sound  thereof  deafened  the  ears 
of  those  who  looked  down  upon  that  encounter  from  the  balcony.  And 
ever  these  two  champions  lashed  at  the  other  such  buffets  that  it  was  a 
wonder  that  any  skill  and  address  at  arms  could  have  turned  aside  such 
strokes  as  fell  in  that  friendly  battle. 

So  they  two  fought  for  so  long  a  time  that  those  who  onlooked  were 
astonished  at  the  strength  and  the  courage  and  the  endurance  of  those 
two  champions,  and  in  all  that  while  neither  knight  had  suffered  aught 
of  harm  and  neither  had  had  aught  of  advantage  over  the  other. 

Then  at  last  the  champion  of  the  castle  cried  out,  "  Sir  Knight,  hold  thy 
hand!"  and  thereupon  Sir  Percival  ceased  his  battle  and  stood  leaning 
upon  the  pommel  of  his  sword,  panting  because  of  the  great 
endeavor  which  he  had  put  forth  during  that  conflict.  Then  and 
the  knight-champion  of  the  castle  said :  "  Messire,  I  have  met 
many  knights  in  my  day  and  amongst  them  I  have  encoun- 
tered those  who  were  regarded  to  be  the  best  knights  in  the  world,  yet  I 
make  my  vow  that  never  until  this  time  have  ever  I  met  any  knight  who 
hath  proved  himself  to  be  so  strong  and  so  powerful  as  you  have  shown 
yourself  to  be  in  this  battle.  Now  I  pray  you,  Messire,  that  you  of  your 
courtesy  will  declare  your  name  and  degree,  for  I  doubt  me  not  that  you 
are  one  whom  we  shall  find  to  have  conferred  great  honor  upon  us  by 
coming  to  this  place." 

To  this  Sir  Percival  said:  "Messire,  your  civility  of  words  is  equal  to 
your  address  at  arms.     Gladly  will  I  declare  my  name  and  degree,  and 
happy  will  I  be  if  it  hath  aught  of  significance  to  you,  for  I  do  not  think 
that  even  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake  himself  was  ever  a  better  knight 
than  you  have  shown  yourself  to  be.     Know  you  that  I  am  Sir  Percival 
of  Gales  and  that  I  am  son  to  King  Pellinore  and  brother   sir  Percival 
unto  Sir  Lamorack  of  Gales.     And  now  I  beseech  you  upon   dcdareth 
your  part  to  declare  your  name  and  title  to  me."  ™&if. 

But  to  this  speech  the  champion  of  the  castle  made  no  reply.  Other- 
wise, when  he  heard  what  Sir  Percival  said,  and  when  he  heard  the  name 


286  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

and  degree  of  Sir  Percival,  he  gave  forth  a  great  cry,  either  of  joy  or  of 
something  different  from  joy.  Therewith,  and  thus  crying  out,  he  flung 
away  his  sword  and  he  flung  away  his  shield,  and  he  ran  to  Sir  Percival 
and  threw  himself  down  upon  his  knees  before  Sir  Percival  and  embraced 
him  about  the  thighs.  And  he  cried  out:  "What  have  I  done!  What 
have  I  done  to  do  battle  with  thee  in  this  wise!" 

At  this  Sir  Percival  was  very  greatly  astonished  and  he  said:  "Sir,  what 
is  this  thou  doest  to  kneel  to  me?  Who  art  thou  who  sayst  such  words 
as  these  I  hear?  Now  I  pray  thee  that  thou  wilt  immediately  declare 
thyself  to  me  who  thou  art! " 

Then  that  knight,  still  kneeling,  said :  "  Sir  Percival,  I  am  he  whom  men 
Sir  Launceht  one  t*me  ca^e(^  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake."  Therewith  saying, 
deciareth  that  knight  of  the  castle  lifted  up  the  umbril  of  his  helmet  and 

himself.  Sir  percjvai  beheld  that  it  was  indeed  Sir  Launcelot. 

Then  Sir  Percival  cried  out  even  as  Sir  Launcelot  had  done,  and  thus 
crying  out  he  said:  "At  last,  at  last  I  have  found  thee!"  Therewith  he 
lifted  up  Sir  Launcelot  into  his  arms,  and  he  embraced  Sir  Launcelot  and 
kissed  him  upon  the  cheek  and  they  wept  over  one  another  with  a  great 
joy  of  meeting,  and  all  those  in  the  balcony  who  beheld  that  sight  wondered 
what  was  its  occasion. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  to  Sir  Percival :  "  Sir,  let  me  bring  you  to  my 
lady."  And  therewith  he  took  Sir  Percival  by  the  hand  and  led  him  up 
into  the  gallery  and  to  where  the  Lady  Elaine  sat  in  the  midst  of  her  court. 
And  Sir  Percival  looked  with  a  very  earnest  regard  upon  that  lady,  and  it 
Sir  Percival  appeared  to  him  that  he  had  never  before  beheld  so  sweet  and 
behoideth  Elaine  gentle  and  beautiful  a  countenance  as  that  which  he  then 
looked  upon.  And  Sir  Percival  said :  "  Lady,  now  that  I  see 
thee  I  wonder  not  that  Sir  Launcelot  hath  remained  thus  hidden  away  from 
the  sight  of  all  of  us  for  these  two  years  past.  For  if  this  island  wherein 
ye  dwell  is  a  fair  paradise  then  certes  art  thou  a  very  fitting  queen  to  that 
dwelling-place." 

So  spake  Sir  Percival,  and  after  he  had  spoken  the  Lady  Elaine  smiled 
very  kindly  upon  him  and  she  said:  "Messire,  your  words  are  very  fair 
and  they  flatter  me  far  beyond  my  deserving.  Great  is  your  renown 
amongst  us  and  I  declare  that  you  are  very  welcome  to  this  place.  Now 
I  pray  you  put  aside  your  armor  and  bathe  and  refresh  yourself,  and 
after  that  we  shall  all  take  gentle  sport  together." 

Sir  Percival  said:  "Lady,  gladly  would  I  stay  with  you  at  this  present. 
But  there  is  awaiting  me  at  another  place  not  far  distant  from  this  one 
whom  Sir  Launcelot  will  be  even  more  glad  to  behold  than  he  was  glad 


SIR   ECTOR  FINDETH  SIR  LAUNCELOT  287 

to  behold  me.  Now  I  pray  you,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bring  that  one 
hither  and  then  will  we  both  remain  with  you  in  greater  joy  of  your  com- 
pany." 

Quoth  Sir  Launcelot,  "Who  is  it  that  could  give  me  more  pleasure  to 
see  than  you,  Sir  Percival?" 

"Sir,"  said  Sir  Percival,  "it  is  your  own  brother,  Sir  Ector.  For  I  left 
him  upon  the  other  side  of  the  water  of  this  lake  whilst  I  came  hither  alone 
to  try  my  fortune  with  you.  Now  I  pray  you  let  me  go  to  him  and  bring 
him  hitherward  so  that  we  may  all  rejoice  together." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out:  "This  is  indeed  joy  upon  joy.  Now  I 
pray  you,  Sir  Percival,  go  and  bring  him!"  Therewith  Sir  Percival  de- 
parted to  fetch  Sir  Ector  thither  in  accordance  with  that  saying. 

So  Sir  Percival  rode  down  through  the  meadow  of  the  island  to  the 
margin  of  the  lake,  and  when  he  had  come  there  the  ferryman  ferried 
him  across  the  water  as  they  had  brought  him  across  before.  And  Sir 
Percival  found  Sir  Ector  waiting  for  him,  who,  when  he  beheld  Sir  Percival 
coming,  said:  "Sir,  what  fortune  had  you  in  your  adventure?"  Quoth 
Sir  Percival:  "Oh,  friend!  that  fortune  which  I  had  was  greater  than  you 
or  I  could  have  deemed  to  be  possible." 

At  these  words  Sir  Ector  was  greatly  astonished,  and  he  said:  "What 
great  fortune  is  this  of  which  thou  speakest?"  and  Sir  Percival  said:  "I 
will  tell  thee.  Whom  thinkest  thou  I  have  found  upon  this  adventure? 
None  other  than  thine  own  brother,  Sir  Launcelot,  for  he  it  is  who  is 
the  lord  of  this  castle." 

Then  Sir  Ector  cried  out  with  astonishment,  and  he  said:  "Can  this  be 
so  indeed?"  And  then  he  said:  "  Let  us  make  haste  and  go  to  him  upon 
the  wings  of  the  wind." 

So  again  they  entered  the  ferry  and  were  ferried  across  the  water.     And 
after  they  were  upon  the  farther  side  they  rode  together 
through  that  meadow  of  flowers  and  up  to  the  castle.  bringeth  sir 

Now  as  they  drew  nigh  to  the  castle  in  that  wise  they  be- 
held  a  great  concourse  of  the  castle  folk  coming  forth  to  meet 
them  and  giving  great  sound  of  jubilation  and  rejoicing.  At  the  head  of 
these  who  approached  to  meet  them  came  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  Lady 
Elaine,  they  two  riding  side  by  side,  Sir  Launcelot  upon  a  great  black 
horse,  and  she  upon  a  white  palfrey.  And  she  was  clad  all  in  garments 
of  white  sarsanet  embellished  with  pearls  and  embroidered  with  threads 
of  silver,  and  she  was  adorned  with  ornaments  of  shining  gold  and  she 
wore  a  golden  crown  upon  her  head  such  as  was  befitting  the  daughter  of  a 
king  to  wear.  Her  fair  hair  was  enmeshed  in  a  network  of  golden  threads 


288  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

so  that  what  with  this  and  that  her  beauty  shone  from  afar  with  exceed- 
ing lustre.  And  though  Sir  Ector  had  beheld  her  aforetime  yet  it  was 
as  though  he  had  never  beheld  her  until  that  day,  for  her  joy  and  her 
pride  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  in  his  meeting  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Percival  again 
so  illuminated  her  countenance  that  it  was  as  though  her  beauty  shone 
with  a  singular  brightness  from  within;  yea,  it  was  as  though  her  soul  it- 
self had  illuminated  her  body  of  flesh  with  a  pure  and  shining  beauty  that 
was  other  than  of  this  world. 

So  as  they  met,  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Ector  each  leaped  from  his  horse 
and  they  ran  together  and  embraced  and  kissed  each  other 
Sir  Launcelot  and  wept  one  upon  another  in  such  a  wise  that  all  of  those 
e  an~  who  looked  on  wept  also  for  joy  of  their  joy.  And  then  Sir 
Ector  came  to  the  lady  and  took  her  by  the  hand  and  kissed 
her  hand  and  kissed  it  again  and  yet  again. 

After  that  they  all  went  up  to  the  castle  of  the  Joyous  Isle  together, 
and  they  entered  into  the  castle  with  sounds  of  rejoicing  and  loud  ac- 
claim so  that  the  very  walls  of  the  castle  seemed,  as  it  were,  to  cry  out 
with  joy.  So  after  they  had  thus  entered  the  castle,  a  number  of  atten- 
dants took  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  and  made  them  comfortable  in  all 
wise.  And  they  were  given  rich  robes  of  royal  make  for  to  wear  and  af- 
ter that  there  was  feasting  and  rejoicing  beyond  measure. 

Thereafter  day  followed  day  in  great  cheer  and  mirth  and  there  were 
many  joustings  and  tournaments  held  in  honor  of  these  two  royal  knights 
who  had  come  thither. 

Now  one  day  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Ector  were  walking  together  in  the 
garden  of  that  fair  castle  and  they  were  alone,  no  attendants  being  with 
Sir  Ector  them  at  that  time.  Anon  Sir  Ector  said  to  Sir  Launcelot, 

bespeaketh  "  My  brother,  I  pray  ye  read  me  a  riddle."  Quoth  Sir  Launce- 
**  lot,  "What  is  your  riddle? "  "It  is  this,"  said  Sir  Ector: 
"  What  should  one  do  if  a  messenger  came  to  him  with  command  from  a 
queen  to  whom  he  had  sworn  duty — that  command  being  that  he  should 
show  himself  at  court?  Should  that  one  neglect  the  command  that  his 
queen  had  transmitted  to  him,  or  should  he  obey  that  command." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  turned  his  face  aside  so  that  Sir  Ector  might  not 
read  his  eyes,  and  after  a  little  he  said,  "  I  will  not  return  to  court." 

"Why  will  ye  not  do  so?"  said  Sir  Ector,  and  Sir  Launcelot  made  reply: 
"Because  a  duty  that  is  greater  than  any  queen's  command  keeps  me 
here  with  this  lady  unto  whom  I  have  pledged  all  my  truth  and  all  my 
faith." 


SIR  ECTOR  BESPEAKETH   SIR  LAUNCELOT  289 

After  that  Sir  Ector  was  silent  for  a  little,  and  then  after  a  little  while 
he  said  :  "  Sir,  you  know  very  well  that  I  would  do  naught  to  advise  you 
against  that  which  I  believe  to  be  your  duty  and  your  honor.  But  are 
you  so  doubtful  of  yourself  that  you  fear  to  perform  one  duty  lest  you 
should  fail  in  another  duty?  Now  we  are  commanded  by  that  queen 
whom  you  swore  to  serve  to  search  you  out  and  to  find  you  and  to  tell 
you  that  it  is  her  command  unto  you  that  you  return  to  the  court  of  the 
Great  King  and  make  your  peace  with  her.  Are  you  then  so  doubtful 
of  your  truth  to  the  Lady  Elaine  that  you  fear  to  obey  the  command  of 
the  Queen  ?" 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out,  "Say  no  more  to  me  of  this!"  and  so  Sii 
Ector  said  no  more.  So,  shortly  afterward  they  parted  company. 

After  that  they  had  so  parted  Sir  Launcelot  went  to  a  certain  chamber 
of  the  castle  where  he  was  alone  and  there  he  communed  with  his  spirit, 
and  these  communings  were  very  bitter  and  sad.  Anon  came  the  Lady 
Elaine  to  that  place  and  knocked  upon  the  door  and  demanded  entrance, 
but  for  a  while  Sir  Launcelot  denied  her.  But  ever  she  knocked,  and  so 
after  a  while  he  opened  the  door  a  little  and  admitted  her  into  that  place 
where  he  was. 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  came  close  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  looked  very  deeply 
into  his  eyes,  and  by  and  by  she  said,  "Launcelot,  what  ails  thee?"  He 
said,  "My  brother  hath  been  talking  to  me  concerning  certain  matters." 
She  said,  "What  was  it  he  said  to  thee?"  And  Sir  Launcelot  replied,  "  I 
will  not  tell  thee." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  smiled  into  Sir  Launcelot  's  face  and  she  said: 
"  It  needs  not  that  thou  shouldst  tell  me  what  thy  brother  said,  for  I  can 
guess  very  well  what  it  was."     Then  she  took  Sir  Launcelot  's 
head  into  her  embrace  and  she  said,  "  Launcelot!  Launcelot!  "    Elaine  be- 


and  he  said,  "Elaine!  Elaine!"  And  the  Lady  Elaine  said:  * 
"Alas,  love,  thou  must  return  with  these  good  knights  unto 
the  court  of  the  King,  for  it  is  thy  duty  to  do  so.  After  that  thou  mayst 
return  hither,  and  I  pray  God  that  thy  staying  away  from  this  place  may 
not  be  for  very  long." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "Elaine,  I  will  not  go  away  from  this  place 
unless  it  be  that  thou  also  goest  with  me.  Wherefore,  if  thou  wilt  have 
me  go  to  King  Arthur  's  court,  then  go  thou  along  with  me.  Otherwise, 
if  thou  wilt  not  do  that,  then  I  will  disobey  the  Queen's  commands  and 
will  stay  forever  here  with  thee." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  smiled  again  though  somewhat  sadly  and  she 
said:  "Ah,  Launcelot,  I  am  sorry  for  thee  and  for  thy  doubts.  But  as 


290  THE  RETURN   OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

thou  wilt  have  it  so,  so  let  it  be  and  I  will  go  with  thee  to  the  court  of  the 
King."  Therewith  she  kissed  Sir  Launcelot  upon  the  face  and  he  kissed 
her  as  with  a  great  passion. 

So  three  days  after  that  time  all  they  departed  from  Joyous  Isle — to 
The  ail  de-  w^'  ^r  Launcelot  and  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  and  the 
part  from  Lady  Elaine — and  in  the  court  who  went  along  with  them  there 
Joyous  isle.  also  traveue(^  5^  Lavaine,  the  Lady  Elaine's  brother,  who 
had  aforetime  been  Sir  Launcelot 's  companion  at  arms  in  that  tournament 
at  Astolat  as  aforetold  of.  These  with  their  courts  of  esquires  and  ladies 
and  demoiselles  wended  their  way  from  that  place  with  great  state  of  de- 
parture and  with  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance  that  befitted  the  high 
estate  of  those  who  travelled. 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  found,  and  now  if  you  will  read  this 
history  further  you  shall  hear  of  a  very  pleasant  adventure  that  befell 
them  upon  their  way  to  the  castle  of  King  Arthur  and  of  how  Sir  Ewaine 
and  the  Lady  of  the  Fountain  joined  them  and  went  with  them  to  the 
court  of  the  King. 


ir  Laoainc  flje  Son  of  Belles: 


Chapter    Third 


How  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  and  the  Lady 
Elaine  progressed  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  how  a  very 
good  adventure  befell  them  upon  their  way. 

NOW,  as  was  said,  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  Lady  Elaine  departed  for 
Camelot,  together  with  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Ector  and  Sir  Lavaine, 
for  their  intent  was  to  return  to  King  Arthur's  court.  With  them 
went  a  very  noble  court  of  knights  and  ladies,  and  of  many  attendants  of 
all  degrees  in  waiting  upon  them.  So  it  was  that  whensoever  their  caval- 
cade would  make  a  halt,  that  place  where  they  would  rest  would  suddenly 
bloom  forth,  as  it  were,  with  the  glory  of  their  coming.  For  upon  such 
a  halt  there  would  immediately  be  spread  a  number  of  pavilions  of  all 
sorts  and  colors  for  the  accommodation  of  those  lords  and  ladies,  where- 
fore the  green  fields  and  meadowlands  would  presently  be  covered  all 
over  with  a  great  multitude  of  gay  colors  of  all  sorts,  bedazzling  the  eye 
with  their  brightness  and  their  variety.  Then  all  the  air  would  be  aflutter 
with  silken  pennants  and  banners,  and  all  would  be  bright  with  the  shining 
of  armor  and  the  movement  of  gaily  clad  figures,  and  all  would  be  merry 
with  the  chatter  and  music  of  many  voices  talking  together,  and  all  would 
be  alive  with  movement  and  bustle — some  running  hither  and  some  running 
thither — and  everywhere  pages  and  esquires  would  be  busy  polishing  pieces 
of  armor,  and  damsels  would  be  busy  in  gentle  attendance  upon  the  lady. 
So  it  was  that  they  made  progression  in  that  wise,  all  gay  and  debon- 
naire,  and  so  one  day  they  made  halt  toward  the  sloping  of  the  afternoon 
in  a  certain  very  pleasant  woodland  where  a  fair  fountain  of  How  they  rest 
water,  as  clear  as  crystal  and  as  cold  as  ice,  came  gushing  within  the 
forth  from  a  mossy  rock  of  the  woodland.  Here  was  a  very  , 
pleasant  meadow  of  lush  green  grass  all  besprinkled  with  pretty  flowers 
and  around  about  stood  the  trees  of  the  forest,  ever  rustling  and  murmur- 
ing their  leaves  in  the  soft  and  balmy  breezes  that  caused  their  ancient 
heads  to  move,  very  slowly  this  way  and  that,  as  though  they  were  whisper- 
ing to  one  another  concerning  the  doings  of  those  gay  travellers  aforesaid. 


294  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Now  as  those  knights  and  ladies  who  had  been  travelling  all  that  day 
were  anhungered  with  journeying,  a  repast  had  been  spread  in  the  open 
air,  and  all  they  sat  at  table  with  only  the  blue  sky  and  the  bright  floating 
clouds  above  their  heads  for  a  canopy,  and  only  the  soft  green  grass  and 
the  pretty  flowers  beneath  their  feet  for  a  carpet.  And  so  as  they  sat, 
pages  and  attendants  ran  hither  and  thither  with  plates  and  dishes  and 
pattens  of  silver  and  of  gold  full  of  meats  of  all  kinds,  and  with  beakers 
and  pitchers  and  goblets  of  silver  and  of  gold  full  of  wines  of  various  sorts ; 
and  with  these  foods  the  attendants  served  that  noble  company  as  they 
sat  at  table.  And  all  the  stillness  of  the  forest  was  filled  full  of  the  noise 
of  the  chanting  of  many  voices,  and  of  laughter  and  of  snatches  of  song. 
What  time  there  stood  near  by  several  minstrels  who  played  upon  harps 
for  the  entertainment  of  those  who  ate  at  the  table. 

So,  as  they  sat,  all  enjoying  themselves  with  feasting  and  good  cheer, 
A  strange  dam-  t^iere  came  forth  of  a  sudden  from  the  forest  a  very  beautiful 
seiappeareth  damsel  riding  upon  a  milk-white  horse  with  two  esquires  in 
m the  forest.  attendance  upon  her — the  one  walking  upon  the  one  side  of 
her  horse,  and  the  other  upon  the  other.  This  damsel  and  the  esquires 
were  all  clad  in  flame-colored  satin  and  all  these  were  adorned  with  many 
ornaments  of  gold.  And  the  damsel  wore  about  her  neck  several  shining 
necklaces  of  gold  inset  with  jewels  of  divers  sorts,  and  she  wore  armlets 
of  gold  also  inset  with  jewels  upon  her  arms,  and  her  hair  was  gathered 
into  a  net  of  gold.  So  it  was,  what  with  that  flaming  raiment  and  the 
shining  of  those  several  ornaments  of  gold,  that  she  who  came  thither 
was  all  one  living  flame  of  fire. 

So  she  drew  nigh  to  them  who  sat  at  table,  and  they  beheld  that  the  face 
of  that  damsel  was  of  a  very  singularly  beautiful  appearance,  being  like 
to  ivory  for  whiteness ;  and  they  beheld  that  her  lips  were  like  to  coral  for 
redness,  and  that  her  eyes  were  like  two  jewels,  very  bright  and  shining. 
And  they  beheld  that  her  hands  were  long  and  slender,  and  were  adorned 
with  many  rings  of  wrought  gold,  so  that  each  finger  shone,  as  it  were,  with 
pure  brightness  because  of  those  several  hoops  of  gold  that  encircled  them. 

Such  was  the  appearance  of  that  damsel  and  all  they  who  sat  there  at 
feast  were  astonished  with  wonderment  when  they  beheld  her,  for  they 
all  wist  that  without  doubt  she  was  fay. 

Now  when  that  damsel  had  come  pretty  close  to  where  they  sat  at  their 
The  damsel  be-  feast,  she  drew  rein  and  cried  out :  "  God  save  you,  gentles ! 

speaketh  them.      NQW  j  pray  yQU  teU  me  tf  there  ^  any  ^^  here  who  hath 

a  mind  for  an  adventure  that  would  doubtless  be  very  pleasant  for  him  to 
undertake?" 


HE  ASSUMETH    THE   ADVENTURE  OF   THE  FOUNTAIN       295 

To  this  Sir  Launcelot  made  reply:  "I  dare  say,  fair  maiden,  that  there 
are  several  knights  here  who  would  take  pleasure  in  assuming  any  adven- 
ture that  one  so  beautiful  as  you  are  might  call  upon  him  to  perform. 
Speaking  for  myself,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  assume  such  an  adventure; 
wherefore,  I  pray  thee,  tell  me  what  that  adventure  is." 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  said  the  damsel.  "  The  adventure  which  I  would  have 
you  undertake  is  hight  the  Adventure  of  the  Fountain,  and  if  you  would 
assume  it,  you  have  only  to  take  yonder  path  that  leads  through  the 
woodlands  in  that  direction  and  you  shall  come  to  it  anon.  For  if  you  go 
in  that  way  you  will  come,  by  and  by,  to  a  high  mound,  where  you  will 
find  a  huge  black  man  sitting,  watching  a  herd  of  cattle.  Tell  him  that 
you  are  come  to  assume  the  Adventure  of  the  Fountain,  and  he  will  direct 
you  farther  upon  your  way." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "This  is  a  very  strange  thing  that  thou  hast 
set  me  to  undertake.  Now  I  prithee  tell  me  further  concerning  this  ad- 
venture, and  what  will  befall  after  I  have  bespoken  that  black  herdsman 
of  whom  thou  tellest."  But  at  this  the  maiden  only  laughed  and  said: 
"  The  black  man  who  sits  upon  the  mound,  he  will  tell  you  all  that  is  neces- 
sary for  you  to  know."  Thereupon  she  turned  her  horse  about  and  im- 
mediately departed  with  those  two  esquires  who  attended  her.  And  so 
presently  she  reached  the  edge  of  the  woodland  and  disappeared  into  the 
forest  whence  she  had  emerged  not  a  very  long  while  before.  And  all  that 
court  of  knights  and  ladies  were  equally  amazed  at  her  coming  and  at  her 
going. 

Then  after  she  had  thus  gone  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "  I  know  not  what  it  is 
that  this  damsel  has  set  me  to  do,  but  let  us  abide  here  to-night  as  we  had 
purposed,  and  when  to-morrow  comes  then  we  will  all  depart  together  in 
quest  of  this  adventure  which  she  calleth  the  'Adventure  of  the  Foun- 
tain.' For  I  doubt  not  that  it  is  some  very  excellent  undertaking  that 
will  afford  us  extraordinary  entertainment." 

Accordingly,  that  night  they  abided  where  they  were,  and  when  the 
early  breaking  of  the  day  had  come  they  departed  thence    ^  ^ 
upon  the  way  that  the  damsel  had  pointed  out.  upon  the  Ad- 

After  they  had  thus  departed,  they  travelled  for  a  consid-   ^^{ thc 
erable  distance  through  the  forest  in  that  direction  and  anon 
they  came  to  that  mound  of  which  the  damsel  had  spoken.     And  they 
beheld  that  the  mound  stood  in  a  wide  open  space  of  the  woodland.     And 
they  beheld  that  there  were  many  cattle  grazing  around  about  this  mound 
and  upon  the  mound,  and  they  beheld  that  upon  the  mound  there  sat  a 
gigantic  being  of  such  a  hideous  aspect  that  they  were  astonished  at  his 


296  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

appearance.  For  his  skin  was  wellnigh  black,  and  his  half  naked  body 
was  covered  all  over  with  hairs  like  to  the  hairs  upon  the  body  of  an  ape. 

Then,  when  this  being  beheld  them  where  they  came,  he  roared  at  them 
in  a  great  voice,  saying,  "Where  go  ye,  little  people,  and  what  is  your 
business?" 

To  him  Sir  Launcelot  made  reply :  "  Fellow,  I  came  hither  to  assay  that 
Adventure  of  the  Fountain  and  these  are  my  companions  who  come  with 
me.  Now  tell  me  what  that  adventure  is  and  what  I  shall  do  to  fulfill  it." 

Then  that  gigantic  oaf  bellowed  with  loud  laughter  and  he  cried  out: 
"Seekest  thou  that  adventure?  Now  I  warrant  thee,  thou  wilt  be  well 
satisfied  when  thou  hast  found  it.  For  so  all  have  been  satisfied  who 
have  come  this  way.  Take  thou  yonder  path  and  by  and  by  thou  wilt 
come  to  a  certain  valley  that  is  very  fair  and  beautiful.  In  that  valley  is 
a  lake  and  there  is  a  fountain  nigh  to  the  lake,  and  thou  mayst  know  the 
fountain  because  a  great  tree  stands  beside  it  and  shelters  the  waters 
thereof.  Beside  the  fountain  is  a  slab  of  stone  and  upon  the  slab  is  a  silver 
bowl  attached  to  the  slab  by  a  chain  of  silver.  Dip  up  some  water  from 
the  fountain  into  the  silver  bowl  and  cast  the  water  upon  the  slab  of  stone, 
and  thou  shalt  straightway  meet  with  an  adventure  that  will,  I  doubt  not, 
satisfy  all  thy  desires  for  a  long  time  to  come." 

So  spake  that  gigantic  being  in  a  voice  like  to  thunder,  and  after  he  had 
spoken  they  presently  all  departed  upon  further  quest  of  that  adventure. 

So  they  travelled  a  very  long  distance  until  by  and  by  they  came  to 
The  behold  that  steep  hill  aforetold  of  in  this  history.  Thereafter  they 
the  valley  of  climbed  to  the  top  of  this  hill  and  found  themselves  at  a  place 
nn'  where  the  forest  ceased  and  whence  beneath  them  lay  a  very 
fair  valley.  And  they  perceived  from  a  distance  the  lake  and  the  fountain 
of  which  they  had  been  told,  and  after  that  they  all  rode  down  in  that 
valley  and  to  the  place  of  the  fountain. 

Here,  finding  a  fair  level  meadow,  they  pitched  their  pavilions  around 
about  the  place  of  the  fountain  and  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Percival  and 
Sir  Ector  and  their  knights  armed  themselves  in  all  wise  so  as  to  be  ready 
for  any  sort  of  adventure  that  might  befall. 

Thus  being  in  all  ways  prepared,  Sir  Launcelot  approached  the  foun- 
Sir  Launcelot  tain,  an(^  wnen  ne  had  come  to  it  he  found  the  silver  cup 
poureth  water  chained  to  the  slab  of  stone  as  the  gigantic  herdsman  had 
Up0f{  said  that  he  would  find  it.  So  he  took  the  silver  cup  into  his 

hand,  and  he  dipped  up  the  water  of  the  fountain  therein,  and  he  cast 
that  water  upon  the  slab  of  stone. 

Then  it  befell  just  as  it  had  aforetime  befallen  with  Sir  Sagramore  and 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  FIGHTETH  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  FOUNTAIN     297 

Sir  Ewaine.  For  the  earth  trembled  and  shook  so  that  all  those  who 
were  there  were  filled  with  a  great  terror  at  the  earthquake.  Then  there 
arose  a  mighty  wind,  so  violent  that  all  the  pavilions  that  had  been  erected 
were  overthrown  and  blown  away  before  the  blast.  Then  the  skies  thun- 
dered and  thick  dark  clouds  gathered  over  the  heavens  so  that  the  light 
was  presently  altogether  obscured,  although  it  was  hardly  yet  come  to  the 
prime  of  the  day.  After  that  the  rain  fell  in  such  a  deluge  that  all  they 
who  were  there  feared  for  some  while  that  they  would  be  drowned  in  that 
rainfall.  And  ever,  as  it  rained,  they  heard,  as  from  a  distance,  the  voices 
of  many  raised,  as  it  were  in  lamentation.  For  all  this  was  just  as  it  had 
been  when  Sir  Sagramore  and  Sir  Ewaine  had  come  to  that  place. 

Then  after  a  while  it  ceased  raining  and  the  clouds  cleared  away  from 
the  sky,  and  the  sun  shone  forth  once  more  with  an  extraordinary  bril- 
liancy. And  anon  there  came  that  multitude  of  birds  flying,  as  aforetold  of 
in  this  history,  and  these,  descending  upon  the  tree  by  the  fountain,  straight- 
way fell  to  singing  with  such  a  piercing  rapture  of  melody  that  the  hearts  of 
those  who  listened  were  altogether  ravished  with  the  charm  of  their  song. 

Then,  whilst  those  who  were  there  stood  listening  to  that  singing  of  the 
birds,  they  perceived  a  great  distance  away  the  form  of  a  knight  who 
came  riding  toward  that  place  with  great  speed.  And  that  knight  was 
clad  altogether  in  black  armor  and  he  rode  upon  a  great  black  horse,  and 
all  the  trappings  and  the  furniture  of  that  horse  were  as  black  as  all  the 
other  things  that  belonged  to  that  knight.  So  that  knight  came  violently 
riding  to  where  they  were,  and  perceiving  that  great  court  of  knights  and 
ladies  who  stood  there  all  drenched  and  wet  with  the  rain,  he  cried  out 
in  a  proud  and  menacing  voice,  "  Who  are  ye,  and  which  of  ye  was  it  who 
meddled  with  this  fountain?" 

To  this  Sir  Launcelot  replied,  "Sir,  it  was  I." 

Then  the  black  knight,  speaking  very  fiercely,  said :  "  Know  ye  that  ye 
have  done  a  very  woeful  mischief,  for,  because  you  have  meddled  with 
this  fountain,  ye  have  brought  a  deluge  upon  this  land  that  hath  done 
great  damage  to  all  they  that  dwell  therein.  Now  make  you  straightway 
ready  for  battle,  for  I  have  great  hopes  of  punishing  you  for  the  mischief 
you  have  done  to  this  land  by  thus  meddling  with  the  fountain." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  answered,  speaking  both  with  great  pride  and  with 
dignity  of  demeanor.  "Messire,"  quoth  he,  "never  yet  have  I  refused 
any  call  to  battle,  nor  shall  I  do  so  at  this  present.  As  for  that  mischief 
of  which  you  speak,  wit  you  that  I  knew  not  I  was  making  any  mischief 
in  what  I  did.  Nevertheless,  now  that  that  mischief  is  done,  I  am  ready 
to  defend  mine  act  since  you  have  called  upon  me  to  do  so." 


298  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

So  saying,  Sir  Launcelot  withdrew  to  one  side  in  that  meadow  near  to 
the  fountain  as  aforetold  of;  and  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain  likewise 
withdrew  himself  to  that  same  place,  and  when  they  had  come  there  each 
chose  such  ground  as  seemed  to  him  to  be  best  fitted  for  the  encounter. 
Meantime,  all  they  who  were  there  gathered  in  a  good  place  whence  they 
might  onlook  that  encounter  and  behold  the  upshot  of  the  adventure. 

So  when  all  was  ready  for  the  encounter,  as  aforesaid,  each  knight 
shouted  aloud  and  drave  spur  to  horse  and  each  charged  against  the  other 
with  all  the  fury  of  two  wild  bulls. 

So  they  met  in  the  midst  of  the  course  with  such  a  roar  of  encountering 
Sir  Launcelot  spears  and  armor  that  the  ears  of  those  who  heard  it  were 
doeth  battle  stunned  with  the  noise  thereof.  In  that  encounter  the  spear 
Foun-g  of  each  knight  was  shattered  to  splinters  up  to  the  hand  that 


tain.  ^id  ft,  and  the  horse  of  each  sunk  back  upon  his  haunches 

as  though  he  had  encountered  a  stone  wall.  But  each  knight  recovered 
his  horse  with  spur  and  voice  and  with  wonderful  skill  and  dexterity,  so 
that  neither  horse  nor  man  suffered  a  fall  from  that  encounter. 

Then  each  knight  voided  his  horse  and  leaped  to  the  earth  and  each 
straightway  drew  his  shining  sword,  all  flashing  in  the  bright  sunlight. 
And  each  rushed  upon  the  other  with  a  great  rage  for  battle,  smiting  and 
slashing  with  their  swords,  and  dealing  such  dreadful  buffets  that  those 
who  beheld  that  battle  were  affrighted  at  the  vehemence  with  which  those 
two  champions  fought.  So  they  did  combat  for  a  great  while  and  in  all  that 
time  neither  suffered  any  great  harm  from  the  buffets  of  the  other.  Then, 
at  last,  that  knight  who  did  battle  against  Sir  Launcelot  cried  out,  "  Stay 
thy  hand  for  a  little,  Sir  Knight,  while  I  hold  speech  with  thee!" 

So  Sir  Launcelot  ceased  his  battle  and  each  knight-champion  stood 
panting,  leaning  the  while  upon  his  sword.  Then  the  Knight  of  the  Foun- 
tain said  :  "  I  pray  thee,  Sir  Knight,  if  so  be  thou  wilt  do  me  that  courtesy 
for  to  tell  me  thy  name.  For  I  declare  unto  thee  that  never  before  this 
day  have  I  ever  met  so  great  a  champion  in  battle." 

Then  said  Sir  Launcelot  :  "  Sir,  wit  you  that  I  am  Sir  Launcelot  of  the 

Sir  Launcelot      Lake.     As  for  you,  I  know  not  who  you  are,  only  know  I  for 

dedareth  him-     a  certainty  that  you  must  be  some  very  puissant  champion, 

for  never  did  I  encounter  a  more  worthy  battle  than  this  that 

I  have  met  with  to-day." 

Now  when  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain  heard  the  name  that  Sir  Launce- 
lot declared,  and  when  he  wist  who  it  was  against  whom  he  had  been 
doing  battle,  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  and  piercing  voice,  "What  say  yon?" 
And  again  he  cried  out,  saying:  "Art  thou  indeed  Sir  Launcelot  of  the 


SIR  LAUNCELOT  KNOWETH  SIR  EWAINE  299 

Lake?  Then  have  I  been  fighting  against  him  whom  I  love  very  dearly 
and  whom  I  have  sought  for  both  long  and  far."  So  crying  out,  he  threw 
aside  his  sword  and  his  shield  and  ran  to  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  was. 
And  he  cast  his  arms  around  the  body  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  embraced  him 
as  with  a  great  passion  of  joy. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  greatly  astonished  to  find  himself  embraced  by 
that  strange  knight,  wherefore  he  said :  "  Messire,  who  art  thou,  and  why 
dost  thou  embrace  me  in  this  wise?" 

Upon  this  the  Knight  of  the  Fountain  uplifted  the  umbril  of  his  helmet 
and  he  said:  "  Behold  me!     I  am  thy  one-time  companion  in   Sir  Ewaine 
arms.     I  am  Ewaine,  the  son  of  King  Uriens  of  Gore."     There-   deciareth 
with  Sir  Launcelot  beheld  the  face  of  Sir  Ewaine  and  knew   himself- 
him,  and  thus  knowing  him,  he  cried  out  with  astonishment  even  as  Sir 
Ewaine  had  cried  out,  saying:  "Ewaine,  is  it  thou  against  whom  I  have 
contended?    Alas,  what  have  I  been  doing  to  fight  against  thee  in  this 
wise!"     Therewith  he  also  cast  aside  his  sword  and  shield  and  took  Sir 
Ewaine  into  his  arms  and  embraced  him  before  them  all,  even  as  Sir  Ewaine 
had  embraced  him.     Then  either  kissed  the  other  upon  the  face,  and  after 
that  all  the  others  of  those  who  were  one-time  companions  of  Sir  Ewaine 
came  forth  and  also  gave  him  greeting,  rejoicing  beyond  measure  to  see 
him  again. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  brought  Sir  Ewaine  to  where  was  the  Lady  Elaine 
and  he  made  the  one  acquainted  with  the  other,  and  Sir  Ewaine  took  the 
Lady  Elaine's  hand  into  his  and  kissed  it  with  a  great  ardor  of  love.  After 
that  they  all  sat  down  together  in  full  amity  of  discourse. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  to  Sir  Ewaine :  "  Messire,  I  prithee  tell  me  how 
it  is  that  you  have  come  hither  and  are  now  dwelling  here  as  the  champion 
of  this  fountain.  For  certes,  it  is  a  very  strange  thing  to  find  you  thus 
engaged." 

To  this  Sir  Ewaine  made  reply,  "I  will  tell  thee."  And  thereupon  he 
told  them  all  that  had  befallen  him  since  he  had  left  Sir  sir  Ewaine 
Percival  to  go  upon  that  Adventure  of  the  Fountain  in  the  telleth  his  story- 
which  Sir  Sagramore  had  failed  to  achieve  success  as  aforetold.  Mean- 
time all  they  listened  to  him  with  great  attention  and  with  close  regard. 
And  when  he  had  ended,  all  said  that  that  was  as  wonderful  an  adventure 
as  ever  they  had  heard  tell  of  in  all  of  their  lives. 

Then  Sir  Ewaine  said:  "Gentles  all,  I  pray  you  of  your  courtesy  that 
you  will  wend  with  me  to  the  castle  where  dwelleth  my  fair  beloved  lady, 
for  certes  it  would  be  a  great  honor  to  her  and  to  me  to  have  you  become 
acquainted  with  her." 


3oo  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

So  said  Sir  Ewaine,  and  all  agreed  with  great  joy  to  what  he  said,  so 
The  come  to  snortly  afterward  they  departed  from  that  place  and  betook 
the  Lstklf0  their  way  down  that  Valley  of  the  Fountain  to  the  castle  of 
the  Fountain.  ^  pountam  as  sir  Ewaine  asked  them  to  do,  and  they  ar- 
rived at  that  place  somewhat  past  the  noon  of  the  day. 

There  they  were  received  with  great  joy  and  rejoicing,  and  after  that 
for  several  days  there  was  feasting  and  merrymaking  and  pleasant  sports 
of  all  sorts  at  the  castle  of  the  Fountain. 

Now  after  several  days  had  passed  thus  joyously  at  the  castle  of  the 
Fountain,  it  chanced  that  Sir  Ewaine  and  his  lady  and  Sir  Launcelot  and 
the  Lady  Elaine  were  together  in  the  garden  of  the  castle,  and  no  one  else 
was  there  but  they.  So  as  they  sat  in  discourse  Sir  Launcelot  said  to  Sir 
Ewaine:  "Messire,  as  we  are  going  to  the  court  of  the  King,  will  you  not 
join  our  company  with  your  fair  Lady  of  the  Fountain  to  accompany  us? 
Certes  it  is  that  there  would  be  great  joy  at  court  if  so  be  we  would  all  re- 
turn together  in  that  wise." 

To  this  Sir  Ewaine  said  :  "  Sir,  that  would  indeed  be  a  very  good  thing 
for  us  to  do,  and  we  will  be  glad  to  go  with  you  as  you  ask  us." 

So  straightway  they  of  that  place  of  the  Fountain  began  to  prepare 

themselves  for  journey,  and  three  days  after  all  the  court  of 

from  the  castle    Sir  Launcelot  and  his  lady  and  all  the  court  of  Sir  Ewaine 


anc*  kis  *ady  made  tneir  departure  from  the  Valley  of  the 
Fountain  and  betook  their  way  toward  Camelot. 

Now  the  way  they  took  led  them  toward  that  mound  whereon  sat  that 
gigantic  black  man  herding  his  cattle.  And  when  this  being  perceived 
all  those  people  passing  that  way,  he  sat  there  and  laughed  like  to  the 
pealing  of  thunder,  though  why  he  laughed  not  one  of  them  wist,  for  there 
was  naught  of  mirth  to  be  seen  in  their  progression.  Yet  ever  that  great 
black  creature  laughed  and  laughed  until  they  had  passed  by  and  gone, 
still  leaving  him  laughing  in  that  wise. 

And  as  they  went  still  farther  along  that  way  they  came  by  and  by  to 
The  Lady  where  was  the  valley  of  the  Lady  Vivien.  And  they  looked 
Vivien  hath  for  that  castle  of  the  Lady  Vivien  whereunto  Sir  Ewaine  had 
twice  come  as  aforetold  and,  lo!  it  had  entirely  disappeared. 
Yea,  there  was  not  to  be  seen  nor  stick  nor  stone  nor  sign  of  it  anywhere, 
and  at  that  they  all  greatly  marvelled,  much  wondering  what  had  become 
of  that  enchanted  place. 

Nor  was  it  ever  known  what  had  become  of  it,  nor  was  it  ever  known 
whether  the  enchantress  had  wearied  of  her  mischiefs,  or  whether  she 


THEY   ALL  COME   TO   THE  COURT  OF   THE  KING  301 

feared  the  anger  of  so  many  who  had  now  been  raised  up  against  her. 
Only  this  was  known  to  be  true,  that  she  had  betaken  herself  and  her  court 
and  her  castle  altogether  away  from  that  place,  nor  was  she  seen  there 
any  more  again. 

Moreover,  it  is  to  be  said  at  this  place  that  from  that  time  forth  the 
enchantment  of  the  fountain  was  removed  and  the  cup  and  the  slab  of 
stone  disappeared  from  where  they  lay,  and  thenceforward  they  of  the 
valley  were  at  peace.  So  endeth  that  part  of  the  story  of  the  Fountain. 

Now  when  that  noble  concourse  of  knights  and  ladies  who  were  in  at- 
tendance upon  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Ewaine  and  their  ladies  They  behold 
drew  nigh  to  the  neighborhood  of  Camelot  (which  same  was  Camelot  again. 
upon  the  fourth  day  after  they  had  left  the  valley  of  the  Lady  Vivien)  Sir 
Launcelot  sent  an  herald  messenger  before  them  to  announce  their  coming. 
So  it  befell  that  when  they  came  within  sight  of  the  town,  they  beheld  a 
great  concourse  of  knights  and  esquires  of  the  court  who  had  come  forth  to 
meet  them.  These  gave  loud  acclaim  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  his  companions, 
crying,  "Welcome,  ye  glorious  champions  who  are  returning  to  us  again!" 

This  welcome  they  gave  on  behalf  of  King  Arthur,  by  whom  they  had 
been  sent,  for  the  King  was  glad  beyond  measure  to  have  those  champions 
who  were  so  dear  to  his  heart  return  to  him  once  more.  So  it  was  that 
those  who  came  to  meet  them  cried  out,  "  Welcome,  welcome,  ye  glorious 
champions,"  in  that  wise.  So  rejoicing  and  giving  welcome  all  they  pro- 
gressed toward  the  King's  town — Sir  Launcelot  and  his  lady  and  Sir  Ewaine 
and  his  lady,  and  their  companions  and  all  their  courts,  surrounded  with 
great  pomp  of  circumstance  by  those  knights  and  esquires  of  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  who  had  been  sent  to  meet  them. 

And  all  they  who  had  thus  come  forth  from  the  town  looked  with  great 
curiosity  upon  the  Lady  Elaine  and  the  Lady  Lesolie  and  all  were  aston- 
ished at  the  beauty  and  the  grace  of  these  two  high  dames.  But  more 
especially  were  they  astonished  at  the  beauty  of  the  Lady  Elaine,  for  her 
loveliness  shone  like  to  a  star  in  the  midst  of  her  court,  wherefore  they 
who  looked  upon  her  said  to  one  another :  "  Certes,  even  Queen  Guinevere 
herself  is  not  more  beautiful  than  yonder  lady." 

So  they  came  to  the  King's  town  and  they  entered  the  town  and  they 
entered  the  castle  of  the  King,  and  there  they  found  King  Arthur  and 
Queen  Guinevere  sitting  in  state  to  receive  them.      Both  the  King  and 
the  Queen  were  crowned  with  golden  crowns,  and  each  sat    They  kneel  be_ 
upon  a  throne  to  receive  those  who  came  in  fitting  pomp    fore  the  King 
and  with   sufficient   ceremony.     So   Sir   Launcelot   and   the    ' 
Lady  Elaine  and  all  those  who  were  with  them  came  before  the  King  and 


302  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Queen  and  kneeled  down  before  them  as  they  sat  high  aloft  in  royal  state. 
Then  as  they  kneeled  there  the  King  arose  and  descended  from  his  throne 
and  came  forward  and  gave  great  welcome  to  them  all ;  for  his  heart  was 
filled  with  gladness  and  joy  to  behold  them  kneeling  before  him  in  that 
wise. 

And  all  that  while  the  Queen's  face  was  smiling  like  to  a  beautiful  mask. 
And  ever  she  gazed  very  steadily  at  the  Lady  Elaine,  beholding  how  that 
the  countenance  of  that  lady  was  exceedingly  beautiful  and  very  noble 
and  gentle.  And  as  the  Queen  gazed  thus  upon  the  Lady  Elaine  she  hated 
her  with  great  bitterness,  yet  ever  she  hid  that  hatred  beneath  a  smiling 
countenance. 

That  day  there  was  great  feasting  and  rejoicing  at  the  court  of  the 
King  because  of  the  return  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Per- 
cival  and  Sir  Ector.  And  ever  the  Lady  Guinevere  took  part  in  that  re- 
joicing, albeit  her  heart  was  full  of  great  bitterness  and  of  a  sort  of  despair. 

Now  the  next  day  after  that  day,  the  Lady  Guinevere  sent  for  the  Lady 
The  Queen  Elaine  to  come  -to  her,  and  when  she  was  come  the  Queen 
wMraweththe  said  to  her:  "Lady,  I  have  it  in  mind  to  do  thee  a  singular 
from  Sir  honor  that  I  would  bestow  upon  thee,  and  this  is  that  thou 

Launcelot.  shouldst  be  in  personal  attendance  upon  me.  To  this  end  I 
have  purveyed  thee  a  room  next  to  mine  own  chamber  in  mine  own  part 
of  this  castle,  and  there  thou  and  thy  attendants  may  lodge  so  that  ye 
shall  ever  be  near  to  my  person.  And  ever  thou  shalt  be  in  close  attend- 
ance upon  me  and  never  shalt  thou  be  parted  from  me  for  all  the  time 
that  thou  remainest  at  this  place." 

Thus  spake  the  Lady  Guinevere,  for  so,  under  the  mask  of  friendliness 
and  pretence  of  doing  honor  to  the  Lady  Elaine,  she  purposed  to  separate 
Sir  Launcelot  from  his  lady  and  after  that  to  keep  them  separate  from  one 
another.  This  she  did,  though  why  she  should  do  it  she  could  not  rightly 
tell  even  to  her  own  heart. 

So  it  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  returned  to  the  court  of  the  King;  so  it 
was  that  they  were  received  at  Camelot,  and  so  it  was  that  the  Lady  Elaine 
the  Fair  was  separated  from  Sir  Launcelot  as  I  have  recounted  above. 


Conclusion 


NOW  at  this  time  the  Lady  Elaine  was  in  very  tender  health,  where- 
fore, after  a  day  or  two  or  three,  she  began  to  repine  at  being  thus 
separated  from  Sir  Launcelot  as  aforesaid ;  wherefore  it  befell  that 
she  grew  lonely  in  that  strange  place  and  wept  a  great  deal  and  ate  little 
and  slept  little. 

Now  there  was  at  this  time  with  the  Lady  Elaine  that  Lady  hight  Dame 
Brysen  before  spoken  of — she  who  went  with  the  Lady  Elaine  to  Sir  Launce- 
lot when  he  lay  so  nigh  to  death  in  the  castle  of  Corbin.  This  lady  saw 
how  it  was  with  the  Lady  Elaine  and  how  that  she  pined  in  that  wise  for 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  she  wist  that  the  Lady  Elaine  was  like  to  fall  sick  un- 
less she  had  sight  of  her  lord.  So  Dame  Brysen  went  to  Sir  Launcelot  one 
day  and  she  said  to  him :  "  Sir,  if  you  find  not  some  opportunity  to  see 
your  lady,  she  will  fall  ill  and  maybe  wane  away  to  death  because  of  her 
longing  for  you."  Sir  Launcelot  said:  "How  may  I  see  her?"  Dame 
Brysen  said:  "Come  to  me  this  night  in  a  certain  passage  of  the  castle 
during  the  mid-watch  of  the  night  and  I  will  bring  you  to  her.  So  you 
may  cherish  and  comfort  her  for  that  while  and  so  she  will  take  good 
cheer  once  more." 

So  that  night  Sir  Launcelot  came  to  the  place  where  Dame  Brysen  had 
appointed  and  Dame  Brysen  took  him  to  where  was  the  Lady 
Elaine.     And  when  the  Lady  Elaine  beheld  Sir  Launcelot  she    Launcelot  vis- 
could  scarce  control  the  transports  of  her  joy  in  having  him   *jj£.£*  Lady 
with  her  once  more,  for  she  catched  him  in  her  arms  and 
held  to  him  like  as  one  sinking  in  deep  waters  holds  to  another  who  comes 
to  save  him.     And  ever  she  cried  in  her  transport,  "  Thou  art  here !     Thou 
art  here!"     And  ever  Sir  Launcelot  soothed  her  and  spake  words  of  com- 
fort to  her.     So  at  last  she  took  good  cheer  and  smiled  and  laughed  as 
she  was  wont  to  do  aforetime. 

So  Sir  Launcelot  remained  with  the  Lady  Elaine  for  a  long  while,  and 
Dame  Brysen  was  with  them  for  all  that  while,  and  the  damsels  of  the 
court  of  the  Lady  Elaine  were  with  them,  for  Sir  Launcelot  did  not 


3o4  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

quit  that  place  until  the  early  watches  of  the  morning  were  come,  what 
time  the  Lady  Elaine  had  fallen  asleep  like  to  a  child  who  slumbers. 

Then  ere  it  was  come  the  dawning  of  the  day,  Sir  Launcelot  took  his 
departure  and  Dame  Brysen  conducted  him  thence  as  she  had  brought 
him  thither. 

Now  there  was  a  fair  young  damsel  of  the  court  of  the  Queen  who  acted 
as  a  spy  upon  Sir  Launcelot.  So  when  the  next  morning  had  come  this 
damsel  went  to  the  Queen  and  told  her  how  Dame  Brysen  had  brought 
The  Queen  Sir  Launcelot  to  the  apartments  of  the  Lady  Elaine  the  night 
is  angered.  before,  and  when  the  Queen  heard  that  news  she  was  wroth 
as  though  she  were  gone  wode,  yet  what  she  did  and  what  she  said  and 
how  she  behaved  hath  never  been  told,  for  no  one  beheld  her  in  the  mad- 
ness of  her  wrath  but  that  damsel  who  was  the  spy  and  one  other.  Only 
it  is  known  that  after  a  while  the  Queen  cried  out  in  a  voice  very  harsh 
and  loud:  "Where  is  that  false  traitor  knight,  Sir  Launcelot!  Bring  him 
hither!"  And  then  she  said:  "Let  no  one  else  come  in  to  me  but  him, 
and  when  he  comes  let  us  be  alone  together!" 

So  anon  came  Sir  Launcelot  conducted  to  that  place  where  the  Queen 

Sir  Launcelot     was»  an(^  ^en  a^  those  wno  were  there  withdrew,  and  no  one 

standeth  before    was  left  in  that  apartment  but  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  Queen 

herself.     So  Sir  Launcelot  stood  before  the  Queen  and  he 

said,  "Here  am  I." 

Then  the  Lady  Guinevere  looked  for  a  long  time  upon  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  her  eyes  were  very  wide  as  she  stared  upon  him  and  her  face  was 
white  like  to  wax.  Anon  she  said,  speaking  in  a  voice  that  was  very  harsh 
but  not  loud :  "  Is  it  true  that  thou  earnest  to  this  part  of  the  castle  last 
night?"  and  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Yea,  lady."  Then  the  Queen  ground 
her  white  teeth  together,  and  she  said,  still  speaking  in  that  same  voice 
that  was  not  loud:  "Traitor!  Traitor!  how  didst  thou  dare  to  come  hither 
without  my  permission?" 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  looked  very  long  into  the  Queen's  face,  and  at  last 
he  said,  "I  am  betrayed,  it  seems."  "Yea,"  said  the  Queen,  "thou  art 
betrayed  indeed,  but  it  is  thou  who  hast  betrayed  thyself." 

Sir  Launcelot  said :  "  In  what  way  have  I  betrayed  myself,  and  in  what 
way  am  I  a  traitor  to  thee  or  to  anyone?  Is  not  my  duty  first  of  all  toward 
that  lady  to  whom  I  have  sworn  my  duty?  What  treason  did  I  then  do 
in  cherishing  her  who  is  sick  and  weak  and  sad  and  helpless  in  this  place 
where  thou  keepest  her  prisoner?" 

So  said  Sir  Launcelot  and  after  that  those  two,  to  wit,  the  Queen  and 
the  knight  champion,  stared  very  fiercely  at  one  another  for  a  while. 


ELAINE  BEHOLDS  SIR  LAUNCEWT  AND   THE  QUEEN        305 

ffhen  by  and  by  the  Queen's  eyes  fell  before  his  eyes,  and  anon  she  fell  to 
trembling.  Then,  of  a  sudden,  she  cried  out  in  a  very  bitter  voice:  "Ah, 
Launcelot,  Launcelot!  May  God  have  pity  upon  me  for  I  am  most  un- 
happy!" Therewith  she  lifted  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes  and  so  cov- 
ered her  face  with  it.  And  that  while  her  face  was  altogether  hidden 
excepting  her  lips  which  were  all  writhed  and  twisted  with  her  passion. 
And  yet  she  wept  not,  but  ever  her  bosom  rose  and  fell  very  violently  as 
with  a  convulsion. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  wist  not  what  to  do,  albeit  his  heart  was  rent  with 
love  and  pity.  Then  by  and  by  he  came  close  to  her  and  Sir  Launceiot 
he  said:  "  Lady,  lady!  What  is  this  you  do!  May  God  have  pitieth  th* 
pity  on  us  both,  for  you  tear  my  heart  strings  with  your  <^ueen- 
grief."  Therewith,  they  two  being  alone,  he  sank  down  upon  his  knees 
before  her,  and  he  took  her  hands  into  his  and  strove  to  draw  them  away 
from  her  face.  And  for  a  while  she  would  not  let  him  withdraw  her  hands 
and  then  after  a  while  she  did  let  him,  and  so  he  held  them  imprisoned 
very  tight  in  his  own.  Yet  ever  she  kept  her  face  turned  away  from  him 
so  that  he  could  see  but  little  of  it.  So  with  her  face  turned  away  she 
said  after  a  while,  "Launcelot!  Launcelot!  Art  thou  not  sorry  for  me?" 
He  said :  "  Yea,  lady,  I  am  sorry  for  thee  and  I  am  sorry  for  myself,  and 
for  which  of  the  two  I  am  more  sorry  I  cannot  tell.  For  God  knoweth 
I  would  abide  by  my  duty  and  my  faith,  and  mefeareth  thou  wouldst 
have  me  do  otherwise."  Then  the  Queen  said:  "Launcelot,  what  is  duty 
and  what  is  faith  when  we  measure  these  things  with  the  measurement 
of  happiness  and  unhappiness ? "  And  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Lady,  for 
God's  sake,  forbear." 

Now  as  Sir  Launcelot  said  those  words  he  became  of  a  sudden  aware 
that  some  one  was  in  that  room.     So  he  looked  up  and  behold!  not  far 
away  from  them  there  stood  the  Lady  Elaine,  and  she  was 
regarding  them  both  and  her  face  was  as  white  as  death,  for   Elaine  appear  - 
she  had  entered  that  place  without  their  knowing  and  she   J*^ that 
had  heard  much  of  that  which  had  passed. 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  aware  that  she  had  overheard  his  words  to  the 
Queen  and  with  that  he  was  overwhelmed  with  confusion  and  with  pity. 
So  he  arose  from  his  knees,  though  not  quickly,  and  stood  there  before 
the  Lady  Elaine  with  folded  arms  and  with  his  gaze  downcast  upon  the 
floor.  Then  the  Queen  also  looked  up  and  likewise  beheld  the  Lady 
Elaine  where  she  stood,  and  therewith  her  face  flamed  all  red  like  to  fire. 

Then  the  Queen  arose  very  haughtily  and  she  said :  "  Lady,  this  is  well 
met,  for  I  was  about  to  send  for  you.  Now  tell  me,  was  it  by  your  will 


3o6  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

that  this  knight  came  last  night  to  this  part  of  the  castle?*'  and  the  Lady 
Elaine  said :  "  Yea,  lady,  it  was  by  my  will  he  came,  for  I  was  sad,  and  no 
one  but  he  could  comfort  me." 

Then  the  Queen's  eyes  sparkled  with  anger  and  she  said:  "Then  you 
have  broken  an  ordinance  of  the  King's  court,  for  well  you  know  that 
such  a  thing  as  that  is  not  permitted.  For  this  I  might  punish  you  even 
unto  death  an  I  chose  to  do  so.  Yet  I  will  not  so  punish  you,  but  will 
have  mercy  upon  you  and  will  spare  you.  Nevertheless  I  command  you 
that  you  quit  this  place  with  all  expedition  that  is  possible." 

So  spake  the  angry  Queen.  But  ever  the  Lady  Elaine  looked  very 
proudly  upon  her.  And  when  the  Queen  had  ended  that  speech  she  said: 
"  Lady,  it  shall  be  as  you  ordain,  and  to-morrow  I  shall  be  glad  to  depart 
from  this  place,  for  it  is  a  place  of  great  unhappiness  to  me.  But  tell  me 
The  Lady  ^is,  lady,  ere  I  go :  What  would  you  say  of  one  who  took 
Elaine  chideth  from  another  who  harmed  her  not,  all  the  happiness  and  joy 
that  that  other  had  in  her  life?  And  what  would  you  say 
if  that  one  who  would  so  rob  the  other  had  for  herself  a  lord  who  was  the 
most  noble  and  the  most  worthy  knight  of  any  in  all  of  the  world?" 

At  this  speech  the  eyes  of  the  Queen  shone  very  wild  like  to  the  eyes 
of  a  hawk.  And  first  she  strove  to  speak  and  could  not,  and  then  she  did 
speak,  yet  it  was  as  though  the  words  strangled  her.  And  she  said,  "  Go ! 
Leave  me!  You  know  not  what  you  say!"  and  other  than  that  she  could 
not  say,  but  only  strove  to  speak  without  any  sound  issuing  out  from  her 
throat. 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  turned  with  great  dignity  and  went  away  leaving 
those  two  alone  together,  and  she  neither  turned  her  head  nor  paused 
at  any  time  in  her  going. 

Then  the  Queen,  turning  to  Sir  Launcelot,  said:  "Messire,  I  lay  this 
command  upon  you,  that  though  your  lady  shall  depart,  yet  that  you  shall 
remain  here  at  this  court  until  such  time  as  I  give  you  leave  to  depart 
hence,"  Then  she  also  turned  and  went  away,  and  for  a  while  Sir  Launce- 
lot remained,  standing  alone  like  to  a  statue  of  stone. 

So  the  next  day  the  Lady  Elaine  quitted  the  court  of  the  King  but 

The  Lady          ^r  Launcelot  remained.     And  he  said  not  to  any  one  that  the 

Elaine  quitteth    Queen  had  commanded  him  to  stay,  for  he  would  not  betray 

her,  so  it  was  that  all  who  were  of  the  King's  court  thought 

that  he  stayed  of  his  own  will. 

But  ere  the  court  of  the  Lady  Elaine  departed  from  that  place  Sir  La- 
vaine,  the  brother  of  the  Lady  Elaine,  came  to  Sir  Launcelot  and  no  one 
was  present  but  they  two.  And  Sir  Lavaine  said  to  Sir  Launcelot :  "  Mes- 


THE  LADY  ELAINE  QUITS    THE  KING'S  COURT  307 

sire,  do  you  not  go  hence  with  your  lady?"  and  Sir  Launcelot  said:  " Nay, 
but  maybe  I  shall  follow  her  anon." 

Then  Sir  Lavaine  said :  "  Sir,  see  you  not  that  your  lady,  my  sister,  is 
in  exceeding  tender  health?"  and  Sir  Launcelot  said,  "Yea,    Sir 
I  see  it."     Then  Sir  Lavaine  said,   speaking  very  fiercely: 
"  What  honor  hath  a  man  who  will  leave  his  own  lady  for  the   treason. 
smiles  of  another  woman?     If  you  do  such  a  thing  you  are  dishonored 
as  a  knight  and  are  a  traitor  to  your  troth." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  looked  very  steadily  at  Sir  Lavaine  and  his  face  was 
exceedingly  white  and  his  eyes  were  like  to  coals  of  fire.  Anon  he  said: 
"Messire,  you  speak  bitter  words,  but  you  are  safe  from  mine  anger." 
Then  Sir  Lavaine  laughed,  though  not  with  mirth,  and  immediately  he 
went  away  from  Sir  Launcelot  and  left  him  where  he  was. 

That  same  hour  the  Lady  Elaine  quitted  the  court  of  King  Arthur, 
riding  thence  in  a  closed  litter  so  that  few,  saving  those  immediately  in 
attendance  upon  her,  could  know  aught  of  what  she  thought  or  said  or  did. 

And  yet  the  whole  world  might  have  seen  her  countenance,  for  it  was 
very  calm  and  steadfast  and  without  any  mark  of  passion.  And  all  the 
world  might  have  heard  her  words  for  those  words  were  also  without  passion 
of  any  sort.  Yea,  I  believe  that  at  that  time  her  soul  itself  was  altogether 
cheerful  and  well-content  and  without  any  shadow  of  sorrow  upon  it. 

For  once,  when  Sir  Lavaine  spoke  with  great  anger  and  indignation,  she 
chid  him  for  his  heat,  saying:  "My  brother,  let  be.  What  matters  it? 
Could  you  but  see  into  the  future  as  I  gaze  thereinto,  you  would  know  that 
it  mattereth  but  very  little  indeed  that  such  things  as  this  befall  a  poor 
wayfarer  in  this  brief  valley  of  tears." 

And  at  another  time  she  said:  "My  poor  lord,  Sir  Launcelot!  Him 
do  I  pity  indeed,  for  God  is  like  to  chasten  him  before  long,  and  to  bend 
him  and  to  bruise  him  as  though  he  were  a  reed  that  was  bent  and  bruised 
so  that  it  may  never  be  able  to  stand  fully  erect  again.  Yet  even  this 
mattereth  but  little ;  for  the  span  of  life  is  but  very  short,  and  all  is  in  the 
hands  of  God." 

So  spake  the  Lady  Elaine,  very  calmly  and  without  passion  or  sorrow 
of  any  sort!  For,  as  aforesaid,  I  believe  that  even  at  that  time  her  eyes 
penetrated  into  the  future  and  that  she  beheld  therein  what  was  to  befall 
all  of  them. 

Thus  they  journeyed  by  easy  stages  for  two  days,  what  time  they  came 
out  from  the  mazes  of  the  forest  and  into  an  open  plain  where  they  beheld 
a  fair  priory  of  the  forest  set  in  the  midst  of  fair  and  fertile  fields  of  corn 
and  of  rye.  And  the  walls  of  the  priory  gleamed  as  white  as  snow  in  the 


3o8  THE  RETURN  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT 

sunlight,  and  the  red  roofs  thereof  shone  like  flames  of  fire  against  the  deep 
blue  sky  against  which  they  stood.  And  the  road  whereon  they  travelled 
went  down  beside  the  banks  of  a  smooth  and  placid  river,  very  bright  and 
shining  like  to  polished  silver ;  and  there  were  willows  and  aspens  upon  the 
one  hand  and  smooth  fields  of  ripening  grain  upon  the  other. 

Now  at  that  time  the  Lady  Elaine  was  suffering  great  pangs  of  sickness, 
wherefore  she  said  to  those  in  attendance  upon  her:  "Dear  friends,  it  is 
well  that  we  have  come  hither  to  this  place.  For  this  is  a  house  of  peace, 
and  I  am  very  sick.  Wherefore  I  pray  you  let  me  rest  here  till  God  shall 
have  dealt  with  me  in  my  travails  in  such  a  manner  as  He  shall  see  fit." 

So  spake  the  Lady  Elaine,  and  upon  that  command  they  bare  her  to  the 
gates  of  the  priory.  And  they  bare  her  into  the  priory  and  laid  her  upon 
a  soft  couch  and  there  she  had  such  ease  in  her  sickness  as  they  could  bring 
to  her  at  that  time. 

Meantime  Sir  Launcelot  abided  at  the  court  of  the  King,  very  heavy  ot 
heart  and  very  sorrowful  of  spirit.  For  his  soul  was  dragged  this  way 
and  that  way.  And  whether  he  had  gone  away  from  the  court  or  whether 
he  had  stayed  as  he  did,  in  either  case  he  would  have  been  most  unhappy. 
Yet  to  his  present  unhappiness  was  added  many  pangs  like  to  the  pangs  of 
remorse.  For  he  could  not  tell  whether  he  did  altogether  ill  or  somewhat 
well  in  remaining  at  the  King's  court  as  he  did. 

Yet  ever  his  thoughts  went  out  after  the  Lady  Elaine  and  he  said  to 
himself:  "So  soon  as  I  can  escape  from  this  place  with  courtesy  to  the 
Queen,  I  will  follow  after  her."  Wherefore  had  he  wist  that  even  then  she 
was  lying  so  sick  at  the  priory  in  the  forest,  it  may  well  be  believed  that 
he  would  not  have  tarried  a  single  moment  longer,  but  would  have  flown 
to  her  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  knew  not  how  it  was  with  his  lady,  and  so  God  was 
even  then  preparing  a  great  punishment  for  him  for  which  he  might  never 
hope  to  escape  for  as  long  as  he  should  live. 


PART  VII 
The  Nativity  of  Galahad 


followeth  the  story  of  the  nativity  of  Sir  Galahad  and  of  how  Sir 
Gawaine  heard  a  miraculous  prophecy  concerning  the  Achievement  of 
the  Holy  Grail,  and  of  how  it  was  prophesied  that  Sir  Galahad  should  achieve 
that  holy  chalice.  Also  it  shall  be  told  how  the  infant  Galahad  was  confided 
to  the  care  of  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  who  alone  knew  what  then  became  of  him, 
until  in  due  time  he  was  manifested  to  the  world  as  the  greatest  and  the  most 
puissant  knight  who  ever  lived. 


erlin  Propljesieflj  from  aCloub 

of  Mist: 


Chapter   First 


How  Sir  Bors  de  Gam's  and  Sir  Gawaine  went  forth  in  search  of 
Sir  Launcelot.  How  they  parted  company,  and  what  befell  Sir 
Gawaine  thereafter. 

NOW  the  history  hath  been  told  of  those  things  that  happened 
to  several  of  the  knights  who  went  forth  in  quest  of  Sir  Launcelot 
after  that  he  went  mad  as  aforetold;  to  wit,  the  history  hath 
been  told  of  Sir  Percival  and  of  Sir  Ewaine  and  of  Sir  Sagramore  and 
of  Sir  Ector  de  Maris.  Here  followeth  an  account  of  that  which  befell 
Sir  Gawaine,  when  he,  together  with  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  also  went  forth  in 
search  of  Sir  Launcelot. 

After  they  two  had  left  the  court  of  King  Arthur  they  joined  company 
for  a  while.  Thus  travelling  together  as  companions  in  arms,  they  met 
with  several  adventures,  some  of  which  are  told  in  histories  of  chivalry 
and  some  of  which  are  not.  In  such  companionship  there  passed  the  spring 
and  the  summer  and  by  and  by  it  was  the  fall  of  the  year. 

Now  some  there  be  who  love  the  summer  time  the  best  and  some  there 
be  that  love  the  spring ;  yet  others  still  there  be  who  love  the  autumn  the 
best  of  all.  And  certes  each  season  hath  its  beauties,  so  that  one  cannot 


3i2  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

wonde*  that  there  are  some  who  love  the  beauties  of  the  fall  above  the 
beauties  of  all  other  seasons.     For  in  that  time  of  the  year  there  comes 
the  nutting  season,  when  country  folk  take  joy  in  being  abroad 
and     i&  the  hazel  thickets,  gathering  the  bright  brown  fruits   of 


Sir  Bors  rode  the  hazel  bushes.  Then  are  days  so  clear  and  frosty,  all  early 
in  the  morning,  that  it  is  as  though  the  whole  vault  of 
heaven  were  made  of  clear  crystal.  Then,  when  you  look  into  the  cold 
blue  shadows  of  the  wayside  bank,  there  you  behold  everywhere  the  spark- 
ling of  many  myriads  of  bright  points  of  light  where  the  thin  frosts  catch 
the  shining  of  the  early  and  yet  slanting  sun.  Then  do  the  birds  cry  with 
a  wilder  note  as  though  heralding  the  approach  of  dreary  winter.  Then 
do  the  squirrels  gambol  in  the  dry,  dead  foliage  in  search  of  their  winter 
store  of  food.  Then  is  all  the  world  clad  very  gloriously  in  russet  and  gold, 
and  when  the  bright  and  jolly  sun  shines  down  through  the  thin  yellow 
leaves  of  the  woodland,  all  the  earth  appears  to  be  illuminated  with  a 
wonderful  splendor  of  golden  light,  so  that  it  may  be  that  even  the  glory 
of  Paradise  is  not  more  wonderful  than  that  unusual  radiance. 

Such  was  the  world  of  autumn  in  which  in  the  latter  part  of  their  jour- 
neyings  in  company  those  two  noble  knights  made  progress  together. 
For  anon  they  would  ride  along  the  smooth  and  dusty  highways,  where 
were  hedgerows,  growing  thin  of  leaves  but  all  bright  with  red  and  purple 
berries;  and  anon  they  would  be  riding  through  some  thin  woodland 
where  the  dry  and  fallen  leaves  rustled  under  foot  with  a  sound  like  to  a 
faint  thunder  of  multitudinous  rustlings  ;  and  anon  they  would  be  journey- 
ing along  the  wolds  where  the  wind  blew  strong  and  free  and  the  great  white 
clouds  sailed  very  smoothly  and  solemnly  across  the  sky  above  their  heads. 

So  travelling  ever  in  that  wise  —  sometimes  here,  sometimes  there  — 
they  came  one  day  in  the  early  morning  to  where  there  was  a  smooth  and 
shining  lake,  the  chill  waters  whereof  were  all  asmoke  in  the  gentle  warmth 
of  the  newly  risen  sun.  And  here  were  sedge  and  reeds,  all  fading  brown 
and  yellow,  and  at  many  places,  wild  fowl,  disturbed  at  their  coming,  would 
spring  up  with  loud  and  noisy  splashings  from  the  entangled  water.  So 
as  they  went  beside  that  lake  they  beheld  two  knights  coming  toward 
them,  riding  side  by  side  in  the  sunlight.  And  when  they  four  had  met 
together  and  had  saluted  one  another  and  had  bespoken  one  another, 
They  meet  sir  ^ey  f  ound  that  those  two  knights  were  Sir  Percival  and  Sir 
Pertivai  and  sir  Sagramore,  and  that  they  also  were  journeying  as  armed 
Sagramore.  companions,  as  aforetold  of  in  this  history. 

So  they  four  went  a  little  farther  to  where  there  was  a  'pleasant  thatched 
farmhouse  not  far  distant  from  the  roadside,  and  there  they  broke  their 


SIR  GAWAINE  SEEKS   THE  LADY   VIVIAN  313 

fast  with  bread  and  milk  and  fresh  laid  eggs  and  honey,  which  the  farmer's 
wife  served  to  them. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  besought  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore 
for  news,  and  therewith  they  two  told  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  how  they 
had  parted  with  Sir  Ewaine  and  how  that  he  had  gone  upon 
that  Adventure  of  the  Fountain.  Then  Sir  Sagramore  told 


them  how  it  had  befallen  with  him  upon  that  same  adventure,  Adventure  of 
and  to  all  this  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  listened  very  intently. 
And  after  Sir  Sagramore  had  ended  his  story,  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine 
asked  him  many  questions  concerning  those  happenings,  and  he  answered 
all  that  they  asked  him.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  said:  "Well,  Messire,  I 
wot  that  all  this  mischief  of  which  thou  tellest  us  was  brewed  by  that 
sorceress  the  Lady  Vivien.  Well  I  know  her,  and  often  have  I  had  reason 
to  chide  her  in  times  gone  by  for  the  mischiefs  she  was  continually  plotting 
against  innocent  folk.  Now  I  have  a  mind  to  turn  aside  from  my  present 
quest  and  to  find  that  lady  and  to  bring  her  to  repentance.  And  if  I  may 
not  bring  her  to  repentance  then  I  shall  compel  her  to  undo  all  these  mis- 
chiefs she  hath  done  in  this  matter  of  the  Fountain."  Then  Sir  Sagramore 
said:  "Sir,  hearken  to  me  and  let  be,  or  else  thou  wilt  entangle  thyself 
in  those  mischiefs  also." 

So  spake  Sir  Sagramore  very  wisely,  but  Sir  Gawaine  would  not  listen 
to  what  he  said  ;  otherwise  he  declared  and  affirmed  that  he  would  go  and 
find  the  Lady  Vivien  and  have  speech  with  her  so  that  he    sir  Gawaine 
would  either  persuade  or  else  compel  her  to  better  conduct,    seekethtke 
So  ere  Sir  Percival  and  Sir  Sagramore  had  departed  from  that    Lady  Vtmen- 
farmhouse,  Sir  Gawaine  had  diligently  inquired  the  way  in  which  he  should 
go  so  as  to  be  likely  to  find  the  Lady  Vivien,  and  after  that  he  bade  Sir 
Sagramore  and  Sir  Percival  farewell,  and  he  bade  Sir  Bors  farewell,  and 
so  took  horse  and  rode  away  in  quest  of  the  Lady  Vivien. 

Now  after  Sir  Gawaine  had  thus  parted  company  with  those  other 
knights,  he  travelled  all  alone  upon  his  way  for  the  entire  day,  and  that 
night  he  lodged  in  the  woodland,  near  to  where  there  was  a  fountain  of 
clear  pure  water.  And  as  he  had  no  other  shelter  he  wrapped  himself 
in  his  cloak  and  laid  his  head  upon  his  helmet  and  so  fell  asleep  with  great 
comfort  and  peace  of  mind. 

So  also  he  awoke  very  cheerfully  in  the  dawning  of  the  day,  and  laying 
aside  his  armor  he  went  to  the  fountain  of  water  near  to  which  he  had 
reposed  and  bathed  himself  therein  and  so  was  refreshed. 

Now  after  that  and  while  Sir  Gawaine  was  still  unarmed,  he  was  suddenly 
aware  that  several  people  were  coming  thitherward  toward  him  through 


3i4  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

the  yellow  woodlands,  and  when  they  had  come  pretty  near  he  beheld 
that  those  who  approached  were  a  company  in  attendance  upon  a  lady. 
Sir  Gawaine  ^nc*  ^e  ^ene^  tnat  tne  company  and  the  lady  who  rode  in 
findeththe  the  midst  of  that  company  were  clad  all  in  flame-colored  satin, 
Lady  Vwten.  gQ  ^a^  ^Q  entjre  woodland  was  illuminated,  as  it  were,  by  a 
great  shining,  flaming  fire.  And  when  that  lady  had  come  pretty  nigh  to 
Sir  Gawaine,  he  knew  who  she  was  and  wist  that  she  was  the  Lady  Vivien. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  went  to  meet  that  lady,  and  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
bridle  rein  of  her  palfrey  and  he  said:  "  Lady,  if  I  mistake  not,  thou  art  the 
Lady  Vivien." 

Quoth  she:  "  Yea,  I  am  that  one,  and  thou,  I  perceive,  art  Sir  Gawaine." 
To  the  which  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "Yea,  I  am  he,"  and  he  said,  "I  have 
come  hither  with  the  especial  purpose  of  having  speech  with  thee." 

Upon  this  the  Lady  Vivien  looked  at  Sir  Gawaine  very  strangely,  and 
by  and  by  she  said,  "What  is  it  thou  wouldst  have  of  me,  Messire?" 

Sir  Gawaine  said :  "  Lady,  I  am  informed  that  thou  hast  done  much 
mischief  to  a  certain  valley  called  the  Valley  of  the  Fountain,  and  I  know 
Sir  Gawaine  ^at  through  this  mischief  thou  hast  brought  mischance  upon 
rebukcththe  many  good  worthy  knights.  Now  what  I  would  have  to  say 
Lady  Vwen.  ^Q  ^ee  -g  ^s .  j  wou^  beseech  thee  to  remove  all  of  those 
mischievous  enchantments  from  that  Valley  of  the  Fountain  and  so  set 
that  valley  free  from  the  ills  that  happen  to  it.  This  I  beseech  thee  of  thy 
gentleness  to  do,  but  if  thou  wilt  not  do  it  because  I  so  beseech  thee,  then 
I  will  compel  thee  here  and  now  to  remove  those  enchantments." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien 's  brows  drew  together  into  a  frown  and  her  cheeks 
grew  very  red  and  her  eyes  shown  like  spares  of  fire,  and  she  said:  "  Hah, 
Messire,  methinks  thou  art  very  saucy  in  thy  speech.  What  is  it  to  thee 
what  mischiefs  I  may  do  to  others  ?  Lo !  I  do  no  mischiefs  to  thee,  wherefore 
this  is  none  of  thy  affairs.  Now  I  bid  thee  straightway  to  take  thy  hand 
from  off  my  bridle  rein  or  else  a  greater  ill  than  thou  hast  any  thought  of 
will  speedily  befall  thee." 

Sir  Gawaine  said :  "  I  will  not  take  away  my  hand  until  thou  hast  promised 
me  to  do  that  thing  which  I  have  demanded  of  thee  and  to  remove  the 
enchantments  of  the  Valley  of  the  Fountain." 

The  Lady  Vivien  said,  "Take  away  thy  hand,  Messire!"  Sir  Gawaine 
said,  "  I  will  not." 

Then  the  Lady  Vivien  cried  out:  "Thou  fool!  Then  thank  thyself  for 
what  thou  shalt  suffer." 

Now  the  Lady  Vivien  had  in  her  hand  a  long  white  wand  and  as  she 
spake  she  lifted  this  wand  and  smote  Sir  Gawaine  with  it  upon  the  shoulder. 


HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  BECOMETH   A   DWARF  315 

And  as  she  smote  him  she  cried  out:  "  Quit  the  shape  that  thou  now  hast 
and  take  instead  the  shape  of  a  misshapen  dwarf." 

Then  as  she  cried  in  that  shrill  and  piercing  voice,  there  befell  a  very 
wonderful  thing,  for,  upon  the  instant,  it  happened  in  that  The  Lady 
wise  as  she  commanded.  For  Sir  Gawaine  immediately  began 
to  shrink  and  to  shrivel  so  that  in  the  space  one  might  count 
five  he  had  ceased  to  be  what  he  was  and  became  instead  a  misshapen 
and  diminutive  dwarf. 

Then  all  they  of  the  Lady  Vivien's  party  laughed  and  laughed  until 
all  the  woods  echoed  with  their  mirth.  And  thus  laughing,  they  took 
their  departure,  and  rode  away  from  that  place,  leaving  Sir  Gawaine  standing 
there  all  bewildered  and  astonished  with  terror  at  what  had  befallen  him. 

So  he  stood  for  a  little,  like  one  in  a  maze,  but  after  those  others  had 
entirely  gone,  he  suddenly  awoke,  as  it  were,  to  his  woful  case.  Then 
straightway  he  began  running  hither  and  thither,  as  though  he  had  gone 
mad.  And  he  ran  in  this  direction  and  in  that  direction,  seeking  for  the 
Lady  Vivien,  but  nowhere  could  he  discover  any  sign  of  her  or  her  court. 
And  ever  as  he  ran  he  cried  aloud  in  a  voice  of  exceeding  agony,  "  Have 
mercy!  Have  mercy!*'  But,  as  aforesaid,  the  lady  and  those  who  were 
with  her  had  disappeared,  and  only  the  lonely  woodlands  surrounded  him. 
Yet  it  appeared  to  him  that  he  heard  the  sound  of  mocking  laughter 
echoing  through  the  forest,  though  whether  that  was  really  so  or  whether 
he  was  cheated  by  his  fancy  he  could  not  certainly  tell. 

So  after  a  while  Sir  Gawaine  flung  himself  down  upon  the  earth  and  wept 
with  despair.  Then  after  another  while  he  bestirred  himself  and  prayed 
God  for  help  and  wiped  his  eyes.  And  after  that  he  gathered  together  the 
pieces  of  his  armor  which  he  could  not  now  wear  upon  his  shrunken  and 
misshapen  body,  and  he  carried  these  pieces  of  armor  away  and  hid  them 
in  a  cave  which  he  had  observed  not  far  distant  from  that  place.  Then  he 
mounted  upon  his  horse  and  rode  away,  not  knowing  whither  to  turn  or 
what  to  do  in  the  direful  trouble  that  had  fallen  upon  him. 

Now  after  he  had  ridden  for  a  while  in  that  way,  perched  high  upon  his 
horse  like  some  diminutive  and  withered  ape,  being  still  in  the  woodlands, 
he  was  aware  of  the  sound  of  voices  and  of  horses'  hoofs  coming  toward 
him  and  then  he  was  further  aware  of  a  company  approaching  from  a  dis- 
tance through  the  half -naked  forest.  Thg  ^ 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  was  filled  with  a  great  panic  of  shame,  pany  behold 
and  he  thought  of  naught  but  how  he  might  hide  himself  and 
his  misshapen  body  from  those  who  were  coming.     But  ere 
he  was  able  to  hide  himself,  those  others  had  catched  sight  of  him.     And 


316  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

they  saw  how  singularly  small  and  deformed  and  withered  was  his  shape, 
wherefore  they  shouted  aloud  and  gave  chase  to  him  as  though  he  had  been 
a  wild  creature.  So  they  pursued  him  for  a  long  distance  and  at  last  they 
came  up  with  him  and  surrounded  him. 

Then,  finding  that  he  could  not  escape,  Sir  Gawaine  leaped  down  from  his 
horse's  back,  and  flinging  himself  upon  the  ground  he  covered  his  face  with 
his  hands  and  sought  to  bury  it,  as  it  were,  under  the  earth,  so  that  they 
who  had  caught  him  might  not  behold  the  shame  of  his  misshapen  coun- 
tenance. But  they  dragged  him  to  his  feet  and  they  pulled  his  hands  away 
from  his  face  and  beheld  it  what  it  was.  Then,  when  they  beheld  that 
his  face  was  like  the  face  of  an  ape  they  all  shouted  aloud  again  and  again 
with  laughter. 

Then  he  who  was  the  chief  of  that  party  said:  "Who  are  you  and  how 
is  it  that  a  misshapen  dwarf  such  as  you  should  be  riding  about  here  in  the 
forest  upon  a  noble  and  knightly  war-horse?"  To  the  which  Sir  Gawaine 
said:  "Sir,  a  great  misfortune  hath  befallen  me,  and  I  am  not  he  whom 
I  was  a  little  while  ago."  So  said  Sir  Gawaine,  and  when  they  heard  his 
speech  they  thought  he  jested  wherefore  they  laughed  again  and  again 
with  a  great  uproar  of  laughter. 

Then  he  who  had  spoken  to  Sir  Gawaine  turned  to  those  others  and 
They  mock  at  said,  "  This  poor  creature  is  mad,"  but  Sir  Gawaine  cried  out: 
Sir  Gawaine.  "  Nay,  I  am  not  mad,  but  very  miserable  and  unfortunate. 
For  this  morning  I  was  a  noble  knight  of  royal  lineage  and  now  I  am  what 
you  behold  me." 

At  this  speech  they  who  heard  laughed  more  than  ever,  for  they  thought 
no  otherwise  than  that  this  poor  dwarf  was  mad  and  was  making  sport 
for  them. 

Then  he  who  had  before  spoken  to  Sir  Gawaine  spake  still  again,  saying: 
"Sirrah,  you  are  to  know  that  the  pet  dwarf  of  the  lady  of  the  castle 
at  which  we  dwell  hath  died  only  a  few  days  ago.  Now  I  will  that  you 
shall  go  with  us  to  her,  and  that  you  shall  serve  her  instead  of  the  other 
creature  who  is  dead.  For  certes  you  are  the  smallest  and  the  most  mis- 
shapen elf  that  ever  I  beheld  in  all  of  my  life.  What  think  you  of  this? 
If  you  go  with  us  you  shall  have  meat  and  drink  in  plenty  and  you  shall 
have  good  clothes  and  lodging  and  fifty  bright  silver  pennies  a  year  for 
your  hire." 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  cried  out  in  a  voice  of  great  anguish:  "  I  will  not  go 
with  you  for  such  a  service.  For  if  you  did  but  know  who  I  am  and  what 
it  is  that  hath  befallen  me,  you  would  know  that  such  as  I  are  not  they 
to  take  such  service  upon  them,  nor  am  I  one  to  make  sport  for  a  lady 


SIR   GAWAINE  SERVES   AS    THE  CASTLE  DWARF  317 

by  exhibiting  the  miserable  condition  into  which  I  have  fallen  from  an 
one  time  high  estate." 

Thus  said  Sir  Gawaine  in  a  great  agony  of  spirit,  but  still  those  that  heard 
him  did  but  laugh.  Then  seeing  that  he  was  of  no  mind  to  go  with  them, 
they  bound  his  hands  and  his  feet  together  so  that  he  could  not  escape  and 
so  they  constrained  him  to  go  whether  he  would  or  not. 

After  that  they  departed  out  of  that  forest  and  away  therefrom,  and  by 
and  by  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  that  they  were  approaching  a  castle  and  that 
the  castle  was  a  very  noble,  stately,  and  lordly  dwelling-place. 

So  they  came  to  the  castle  and  entered  into  the  courtyard  thereof,  and 
after  they  had  so  arrived,  he  who  was  the  leader  of  that  party 
took  Sir  Gawaine  up  to  a  certain  place  where  the  lady  of  the   sir 


castle  was,  and  he  said  to  her:  "Lady,  behold  this  dwarf;   t°t£*icastleof 
we  have  caught  him  in  the  woodlands  and  have  brought  him 
to  you  to  serve  you  instead  of  that  creature  who  died  a  while  since.     Saw 
ye  ever  such  a  wonderful  dwarf  as  this?" 

Then  the  lady  of  the  castle  looked  upon  Sir  Gawaine  and  beheld  how 
exceedingly  diminutive  he  was  and  how  exceedingly  misshapen.  And  she 
was  astonished  at  his  appearance,  and  she  said  to  him,  "Who  art  thou, 
and  whence  comest  thou?"  She  spake  with  such  kindness  and  gentleness 
that  Sir  Gawaine  was  emboldened  to  tell  her  of  his  misfortune  wherefore  he 
cried  out:  "  Lady,  if  I  would  tell  you  you  would  not  believe  me,  for  I  am 
not  what  I  appear  to  be,  but  am  something  altogether  different.  This 
morning  I  was  a  noble  knight,  but  I  have  been  enchanted  and  now  I  am 
what  you  behold  me." 

At  this  the  lady  of  the  castle  also  thought  that  Sir  Gawaine  was  certainly 
mad,  wherefore  she  said:  "This  poor  creature  is  not  in  his  senses.  Take 
him  hence  and  treat  him  very  kindly.  Let  him  be  fed  and 
clothed  and  then  chain  him  with  a  very  light  chain  of  silver 


so  that  he  may  not  escape  until  he  hath  become  used  to  this 

place,  and  yet  so  that  he  may  not  be  burdened  with  these  chains." 

So  spoke  the  lady  very  kindly  and  gently,  but  Sir  Gawaine  was  filled 
full  of  an  utter  despair  at  her  words.  So  he  was  taken  away  and  fed  like 
to  some  pet  creature  and  he  was  chained  as  the  lady  had  said  and  ever  he 
wept  for  pure  despair. 

Now  the  lady  of  that  castle  was  very  tender  of  heart,  wherefore  she 
pitied  Sir  Gawaine  because  he  appeared  to  be  so  misshapen  and  deformed. 
So  ever  she  spoke  kindly  and  gently  to  him  and  she  would  not  suffer  that 
any  of  the  people  of  the  castle  should  torment  him.  Thus  it  was  that 
though  at  first  Sir  Gawaine  was  minded  to  escape  from  the  castle,  yet 


3i8  THE  NATIVITY   OF  GALAHAD 

afterward  he  would  not  escape,  for  he  said  to  himself:  "Why  should  I 
leave  this  place ;  and  where  can  I,  poor  wretch  that  I  be,  find  a  better  and 
kinder  shelter  in  my  misfortunes  than  I  have  at  this  castle?"  So  he 
became  gentle  and  tractable  and  would  not  have  quitted  that  place  even 
if  he  could  have  done  so. 

And  Sir  Gawaine  abode  in  that  castle  for  more  than  a  year,  and  ev< 
the  lady  treated  him  with  kindness  and  with  gentle  tenderness  and  ever 
he  treated  her  with  such  courtliness  as  a  knight  royal  might  bestow  upon 
HOW  sir  a  lacty-  So  great  was  his  courtliness  of  demeanor  that  the 

Gawaine  dwell-  lady  marvelled  much  thereat,  yea,  insomuch  that  she  said  to 
eth  at  the  castle  herseif.  «  Certes  this  poor  creature  must  have  been  reared  in 
a  noble  court  or  else  he  must  have  dwelt  a  long  time  in  such  a  place,  for 
to  have  learned  such  courtliness  of  manner  as  he  showeth." 

And  sometimes  it  befell  that  the  lady  would  question  Sir  Gawaine  as 
to  what  had  happened  to  him  in  times  gone  by ;  but  Sir  Gawaine  had  taught 
himself  wisdom  upon  that  point  and  now  he  would  tell  her  nothing;  for 
he  was  aware  that  whenever  he  had  been  moved  to  speak  about  himself 
and  what  had  befallen  him,  then  they  who  heard  him  would  think  him  to 
be  mad,  and  would  laugh  at  him  and  mock  him,  wherefore  he  would  no 
longer  give  any  one  the  chance  to  declare  that  he  was  mad.  So  ever  he 
held  his  peace  and  ever  the  lady  of  the  castle  wondered  how  it  was  that  he 
had  come  to  have  so  much  of  gentleness  and  dignity  of  demeanor. 

So  that  winter  and  another  winter  passed,  and  during  all  that  time  Sir 
Gawaine  abode  at  the  castle  of  the  gentle  lady  as  aforesaid.  Then  came 
the  springtime  and  the  summertime  again,  and  the  season  when  all  the  trees 
were  green  and  bosky  and  when  the  days  were  warm  and  balmy  once  more. 

Now  it  befell  about  the  middle  of  that  summer  that  the  lord  and  the 
lady  of  the  castle  whereof  Sir  Gawaine  was  now  the  dwarf  went  forth 
ahawking,  and  a  very  gay  court  of  the  castle  folk  went  with  them.  With 
these  the  lady  took  her  dwarf,  for  it  was  now  come  that  she  could  hardly 
ever  bear  to  be  parted  from  him.  And  it  befell  that  when  the  heat  of  the 
day  had  come  the  lord  of  the  castle  gave  orders  that  a  pavilion  should 
be  pitched  in  a  pleasant  shady  place,  and  there  he  and  his  lady  took  their 
midday  meal  and  rested  until  the  sun  should  shed  a  less  fervid  heat. 

That  time  Sir  Gawaine  was  wandering  very  sadly  about  the  skirts  of  the 
forest,  making  great  moan  of  that  enchantment  that  lay  upon  him.  So 
sir  Gawaine  as  ^e  wandered  he  was  suddenly  aware  of  a  bird  with  plumage 
behoideth  the  of  gold  that  sat  upon  the  ground  at  a  little  distance,  regard- 
ing him  with  eyes  that  were  very  bright  and  shining.  Now 
when  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  that  bird,  his  heart  leaped  very  strangely  in 


SIR  GAWAINE  FOLLOWETH    THE  GOLDEN  BIRD  319 

his  breast,  for  he  bethought  him  that  this  was  that  same  golden  bird  of  the 
Lady  Nymue  of  the  Lake  which  she  had  sent  to  him  one  time  before  to 
guide  him  to  the  valley  where  Sir  Pellias  was  abiding.  For  it  hath  been 
aforetime  told  in  that  Book  of  King  Arthur  (which  hath  been  written 
before  this  book)  how  that  same  golden  bird  had  conducted  Sir  Gawaine  and 
Sir  Ewaine  and  Sir  Marhaus  of  Ireland  through  the  forest  to  where  Sir 
Pellias  was  at  that  time  in  great  trouble  and  anxiety  of  soul.  So  Sir 
Gawaine,  beholding  that  bird  there  in  the  forest,  wist  that  it  was  the  Lady 
Nymue  's  bird,  and  he  thought  that  if  he  should  follow  it  now,  maybe  it 
might  bring  him  to  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and  that  she  would  release 
him  from  his  deformity. 

So  Sir  Gawaine  went  back  to  that  pavilion  whence  he  had  come,  and  he 
took  a  palfrey  that  he  found  there,  and  no  one  stayed  him,  for  the  dwarf 
was  now  permitted  to  go  whithersoever  he  pleased.  So  Sir  Gawaine 
mounted  the  palfrey  and  departed  without  saying  a  single  word  to  any 
one,  and  no  one  stayed  him  in  his  going. 

So  Sir  Gawaine  came  again  to  where  he  had  seen  the  bird  and  the  bird 
was  still  sitting  upon  the  ground  where  he  had  first  beheld  it. 

Then  as  Sir  Gawaine  approached  the  bird  it  took  wing  and  flew  with 
shrill  chirping  to  a  little  distance  and  then  settled  again  upon 
the  ground.     And  when  Sir  Gawaine  approached  it  again, 


again  it  took  wing  and  flew  chirping  to  a  little  distance.     So    gulden  bird  into 
ever  it  flew  and  so  ever  Sir  Gawaine  followed,  and  thus  it  con- 
ducted him  into  the  forest  and  away  from  that  place  where  was  the  pavilion 
of  the  lord  and  lady. 

Thus  ever  the  golden  bird  led  the  way  and  ever  Sir  Gawaine  followed, 
until,  at  last,  the  bird  brought  Sir  Gawaine  out  of  the  forest  and  to  a  strange 
place  which  he  had  never  beheld  before.  For  beyond  the  edge  of  the  wood- 
land he  beheld  a  dreary  valley,  naked  and  bare,  and  covered  all  over  with 
a  great  multitude  of  stones  and  rocks.  And  in  that  valley  could  be  seen 
no  sign  of  vegetation  or  of  herbage  of  any  sort,  but  only  those  naked  and 
desolate  rocks  and  stones  all  shining  bright  in  the  heat  of  the  sun  as  though 
they  were  ribs  of  stones  shining  in  a  furnace  of  fire. 

And  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  that  in  the  centre  of  the  valley  there  was  a 
cloud  of  thick  mist  in  the  shape  of  a  solid  pillar  of  smoke.    sir  Gawaine 
And  he  beheld  that  that  cloud  of  mist  moved  not  in  any  way    behoidetkthe 
but  remained  fixed  in  its  place  as  it  were  a  pillar  of  stone. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  looked  for  that  golden  bird  and  he  beheld  it  perched 
upon  the  high  branches  of  a  tree  near  by.  And  he  saw  that  the  bird  had 
folded  its  wings  as  though  to  rest,  wherefore  he  knew  that  there  must  be 


32o  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

somewhat  at  this  place  for  him  to  undertake,  and  that  the  bird  must  have 
conducted  him  to  this  place  for  that  purpose. 

So  Sir  Gawaine,  in  that  enchanted  appearance  of  a  dwarf,  went  down 
into  the  valley  and  drew  near  to  that  pillar  of  mist.  And  he  came  close 
to  the  cloud  and  he  stood  and  looked  upon  it.  Then  as  he  so  stood,  a 
voice  issued  of  a  sudden  out  of  the  midst  of  the  cloud  saying,  "Gawaine! 
Gawaine!  is  it  thou  who  art  there?"  And  Sir  Gawaine  was  astonished 
beyond  all  measure  that  a  voice  should  thus  address  him  from  out  of  the 
midst  of  the  pillar  of  cloud,  for  he  had  long  since  ceased  to  think  that  any 
creature,  mortal  or  otherwise,  would  know  him  in  the  guise  into  which 
the  Lady  Vivien  had  bewitched  him. 

But  though  he  was  so  astonished,  yet  he  answered  in  the  voice  of  the 
dwarf,  saying,  "  Who  art  thou  who  callest  upon  the  name  of  Gawaine,  the 
son  of  Lot  of  Orkney?" 

Then  the  voice  replied:  "I  who  speak  to  thee  am  Merlin.  Here  for 
twelve  years  have  I  been  lying  asleep,  enclosed  in  a  coffer  of  stone,  yet 
Sir  Gawaine  once  *n  every  s^  years  I  awake  for  one  hour  of  life  and  at  the 
hear -eth  the  end  of  that  hour  I  relapse  into  sleep  again.  This  is  my  time 
voice  of  Merlin.  ^  wajfjng>  and  so  ^ast  thou  been  brought  hither  that  thou 

mightest  hear  that  prophecy  that  I  have  to  utter. 

"  And  this  is  my  prophecy : 

"The  Sacred  Grail  that  has  been  lost  to  the  earth  for  so  long  shall  be 
Of  the  prophecy  brought  back  to  that  earth  again.  Yea,  the  time  draweth 
of  Merlin.  n[gfr  an(^  now  js  when  he  wjlo  shaft  achieve  the  Quest  of  that 

Holy  Chalice  is  about  to  be  born  into  the  world." 

And  the  voice  from  out  of  the  cloud  continued,  saying: 
"  When  that  babe  is  born  into  the  world  he  shall  be  taken  away  by  that 
knight  who  is  most  worthy  to  handle  him,  and  after  he  hath  been  taken 
away  he  shall  be  hidden  by  that  knight  from  the  eyes  of  man  until  his 
time  hath  come. 

"  You,  who  are  a  sinful  man,  may  not  have  that  babe  in  your  keeping, 
but  there  is  one  who  hath  but  little  of  sin  and  he  may  do  so.  So  do  you 
according  to  the  ordination  of  this  command : 

"Follow  that  golden-winged  thing  that  hath  conducted  you  hither 
and  it  will  lead  you  to  where  you  may  become  purified  of  your  enchantment. 
After  that  you  shall  follow  that  golden  bird  still  farther  and  it  will  lead 
you  to  where  you  shall  find  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis.  He  it  is  who  is  most  worthy 
in  all  of  the  world  at  this  present  for  to  handle  that  babe,  and  so  he  shall 
care  for  him  and  shall  hide  him  in  a  place  of  safety  until  his  time  shall 
be  come. 


THE  END  OF  MERLIN'S  PROPHECY  321 

"  Bid  Sir  Bors  to  follow  that  golden  bird  along  with  you  and  it  shall 
bring  you  both  to  where  you  shall  find  that  wonderful  infant  aforesaid. 

"Thereafter,  when  that  babe  shall  have  been  taken  away  by  Sir  Bors, 
go  you  forth  and  proclaim  to  all  men  that  when  eighteen  years  have  passed, 
then  shall  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table  depart  in  quest  of  the  Holy 
Grail.  And  do  you  proclaim  this  prophecy:  that  when  that  Grail  hath 
been  recovered,  then  soon  after  shall  come  the  end  of  the  Round  Table, 
and  so  shall  end  the  days  of  all  this  chivalry  that  shall  forever  be  remem- 
bered to  all  the  world. 

"  And  this  is  the  prophecy  of  the  Grail  which  you  have  been  brought 
hither  to  hear,  so  go  you  forth  and  declare  it  abroad  so  that  all  good  worthy 
knights  may  know  that  this  prophecy  hath  been  uttered." 

So  spake  that  voice,  and  then  it  ceased  and  Sir  Gawaine  listened  for  a 
while,  but  still  it  spake  no  more.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  cried  out  aloud :  "  Merlin, 
what  may  I  do  to  free  thee  from  the  enchantment  that  lieth  upon  thee?" 
And  he  waited  for  a  reply,  but  no  reply  was  vouchsafed  him.  And  he  cried 
out  again,  "Merlin,  what  may  I  do  to  free  thee  from  where  thou  liest?" 
but  still  no  answer  was  given  to  him. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  went  forward  with  intent  to  enter  that  cloud  of  mist, 
but  lo!  it  was  like  to  a  wall  of  adamant  and  he  could  nowhere  enter  into 
it.     And  he  strove  at  several  places  but  still  there  was  no  place 
where  he  might  penetrate  it.     For  the  enchantment  that  lay   strive*™ to  enter 
upon  that  pillar  of  mist  was  so  potent  that  it  was  not  possible   t^^oudo^ 
for  any  one  to  enter  it  saving  only  the  enchantress  Vivien, 
who  herself  had  created  that  cloud  by  her  powerful  enchantments. 

And  ever  Sir  Gawaine  called  repeatedly  upon  the  name  of  Merlin,  but 
at  no  time  did  Merlin  answer  him.  Then  by  and  by  Sir  Gawaine  was 
aware  that  the  golden  bird  that  had  brought  him  to  that  place  was  flitting 
hither  and  thither  near  by,  as  though  it  were  very  restless  to  depart.  So 
Sir  Gawaine  was  aware  that  it  behooved  him  presently  to  quit  that  place 
whither  he  might  never  return  again.  So  once  more  he  called  aloud  upon 
Merlin,  saying,  "Farewell,  Merlin,'*  and  it  appeared  to  him  that  he  heard 
a  voice,  very  faint  and  distant  as  though  sounding  from  a  dream  that  is 
fading,  and  heseemed  that  voice  said,  "Farewell." 

Thereafter  Sir  Gawaine  mounted  his  palfrey  and  turned  him  about  and 
departed  from  that  place,  still  in  the  guise  of  a  dwarf,  and  so  that  prophecy 
of  Merlin  was  completed. 

And  never  more  after  that  time  was  the  voice  of  Merlin  heard  again,  for 
no  one  saving  Sir  Gawaine  ever  found  that  valley  with  its  pillar  of  cloud. 


322 


THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 


Yet  it  may  be  that  Merlin  did  but  sleep,  for  it  was  prophesied  of  him  that 
at  the  ending  of  the  age  he  should  come  forth  again  into  the  world,  but 
Of  the  sleep  whether  he  should  come  forth  in  the  spirit  or  in  the  flesh, 
of  Merlin.  no  one  knew.  Yea,  there  be  many  who  opine  that  Merlin 
hath  awakened  again  and  is  alive  this  very  day,  for  such  miracles  are  per- 
formed in  these  times  that  it  is  hardly  possible  to  suppose  otherwise  than 
that  the  spirit  of  Merlin  is  in  the  world  once  more.  Wherefore  it  is  that 
many  suppose  that  he  is  now  again  alive,  though  haply  in  the  spirit. 

Now  followeth  the  story  of  the  birth  of  Galahad,  who  was  the  most 
famous  knight  who  ever  lived  in  the  world  and  who  achieved  the  Quest 
of  the  Grail  as  was  foretold  by  Merlin  in  that  prophecy  herein  recounted. 
So  I  pray  you  to  read  that  story  as  it  shall  presently  be  told. 


ir  Bore  be  Gams,  ijje  goob : 


Chapter   Second 


How  Sir  Bars  and  Sir  Gawaine  came  to  a  priory  in  the  forest, 
and  how  Galahad  was  born  at  that  place. 

SO  Sir  Gawaine  followed  the  golden  bird  away  from  that  valley  of 
enchantment  where  Merlin  lay  bound  in  sleep  in  the  stone  coffer 
(and  concerning  that  stone  coffer  and  the  enchantment  of  Merlin 
it  was  aforetold  of  at  length  in  the  Book  of  King  Arthur).  And  ever  he 
followed  that  winged  golden  creature  both  long  and  far,  and  ever  the  bird 
ceased  not  to  flit  before  him,  but  led  him  onward  in  a  certain  direction. 
So  thus  it  befell  that  toward  the  evening  of  that  same  day  Sir  Gawaine,  still 
following  the  golden  bird,  came  out  of  the  forest  again  and  to  a  wonderful 
place,  lit  by  a  strange  golden  light  that  was  not  like  the  light  of  the  moon 
nor  like  the  light  of  the  sun  nor  like  any  other  kind  of  light  that  was  to 
be  found  in  the  world  of  mortal  man.  For  though  it  was  sir  Gawaine 
toward  evening  when  Sir  Gawaine  came  to  that  place,  yet  comethtothe 
everywhere  there  was  that  golden  radiance  both  upon  earth  ma&clake- 
and  in  the  sky.  And  in  this  light  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  a  wide  and  circular 
lake,  very  still  and  shining,  and  without  any  ripple  upon  the  face  thereof, 
so  that  it  was  rather  like  to  a  lake  of  crystal  than  to  a  lake  of  water.  And 
all  about  the  margin  of  the  lake  there  bloomed  an  incredible  number  of 
tall  flowers,  both  lily  flowers  and  asphodels. 

Then,  as  Sir  Gawaine  drave  his  horse  forward  through  those  flowers,  he 
became  aware  that  this  was  that  magic  lake  where  dwelt  the  Lady  Nymue 
of  the  Lake  and  where  dwelt  Sir  Pellias  who  was  her  lord  and  the  knight- 
champion  of  the  lake — for  he  had  beheld  that  lake  aforetime  by  moonlight 
when  he  had  followed  Sir  Pellias  to  that  place. 

Now  as  Sir  Gawaine  thus  advanced  amidst  the  flowers,  he  was  aware 
that  a  little  distance  away  there  stood  a  pavilion  of  green  satin  adorned 
with  golden  figures  of  cherubim  and  so  he  went  forward  toward  that  pavilion, 
for  ever  the  golden  bird  led  him  thitherward. 

So  as  he  came  toward  that  pavilion  there  issued  forth  therefrom  a  lady 


326  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

who  came  to  meet  him.  And  that  lady  was  clad  all  in  a  garment  of  shining 
green ;  and  she  wore  about  her  neck  many  bright  and  glistering  ornaments 
of  gold  inset  with  stones  about  her  wrists  and  arms.  And  her  hair  was 
perfectly  black  and  her  face  was  white  like  to  ivory  for  whiteness  and  her 
eyes  were  black  and  shining  like  to  two  jewels  set  in  ivory.  And  Sir 
Gawaine  immediately  knew  that  lady  who  she  was  and  that  she  was  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake  herself;  for  so  she  appeared  to  King  Arthur  and 
so  she  appeared  to  several  others,  as  you  may  read  of  if  it  should 
please  you  in  those  volumes  of  this  history  that  were  written  before  this 
volume. 

So  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  came  forward  to  meet  Sir  Gawaine,  and  she 
beheld  Sir  Gawaine  how  that  he  was  bewitched  into  the  guise  of  a  dwarf 
as  aforetold.  And  the  lady  said:  "Certes,  Messire,  this  is  a  great  mis- 
fortune that  hath  befallen  thee.  Now  I  prithee  come  with  me  until  I 
make  an  end  of  thy  enchantment." 

So  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  took  the  horse  of  Sir  Gawaine  by  the  bridle, 
and  she  led  the  horse  through  those  flowers  for  some  little  distance,  and 
so  brought  him  to  the  margin  of  the  waters  of  the  lake.  And  when  they 
had  come  there  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  stooped  and  dipped  up  some  of  the 
water  of  the  lake  into  her  hand ;  and  she  flung  the  water  upon  Sir  Gawaine, 
crying  out  in  a  high  and  piercing  voice:  "Cease  from  thy  present  shape, 
and  assume  that  shape  that  is  thine  own!" 

The  Lady  of  Therewith,  upon  an  instant,  the  enchantment   that    had 

the  Lake  heaieth  rested  upon  Sir  Gawaine  was  released  from  him  and  he  became 

StrGawatne         1  .          ,.  .  .  . 

of  his  enchant-  himself  again,  resuming  his  own  knightly  appearance  instead 
ment.  o£  ^hat  semblance  of  a  misshapen  dwarf  into  which  the  en- 

chantment of  the  Lady  Vivien  had  cast  him. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  leaped  down  from  off  the  back  of  that  poor  palfrey 
upon  which  he  had  been  riding,  and  he  kneeled  down  before  that  fair  and 
gentle  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and  he  set  the  palms  of  his  hands  together  and 
gave  her  words  of  pure  gratitude  beyond  stint  that  she  had  removed  that 
enchantment  from  him.  And  ever  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  looked  down 
upon  Sir  Gawaine  and  smiled  very  kindly  upon  him.  And  she  said :  "  Messire, 
abide  this  night  in  yonder  pavilion,  for  it  hath  been  prepared  for  thee  to 
rest  in.  To-morrow,  after  thou  hast  thus  rested  and  refreshed  thyself, 
then  thou  shalt  go  forward  upon  thy  way  again." 

Then  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  gave  her  hand  to  Sir  Gawaine  and  he  took  it 
and  kissed  it.  And  after  that  she  turned  and  approached  the  lake,  and 
at  that  time  the  sky  was  all  golden  both  with  the  glory  of  the  fading  day 
and  with  that  other  glory,  the  strange  magic  light  that  embalmed  that 


THE  LADY  OF    THE  LAKE  FREES  SIR  GAWAINE  327 

wonderful  lake  as  aforetold.  And  Sir  Gawaine,  still  kneeling  upon  the 
strand  of  the  lake,  beheld  that  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  reached  the  water, 
and  stretched  forth  her  foot  and  set  it  upon  the  surface  of  the  The  Lady  of  the 
lake  as  though  the  water  had  been  a  sheet  of  clear  glass.  Lake  departeth. 
And  as  soon  as  that  lady  thus  touched  the  water  of  the  lake,  she  immedi- 
ately disappeared  from  sight,  and  thenceforth  was  seen  no  more  at  that 
time. 

After  that  Sir  Gawaine  arose  from  where  he  kneeled,  and  he  went  toward 
the  pavilion  and  as  he  approached  it  there  came  forth  two  esquires  to 
meet  him.  And  those  esquires  were  people  of  the  lake,  for  they  also  were 
clad  in  garments  of  green  like  the  garments  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and 
those  garments  also  shone  with  a  singular  lustre  as  did  her  garments. 
And  their  hair  was  perfectly  black  and  each  wore  a  fillet  of  gold  about  his 
head. 

These  came  to  Sir  Gawaine  and  conducted  him  to  the  pavilion  and  into 
the  pavilion.     In  the  pavilion  was  a  couch  and  Sir  Gawaine  seated  himself 
thereon,  and  after  he  had  done  so  the  two  esquires  brought 
a  table  of  gold  and  placed  it  before  him.     Then  they  spread    is  served  by  the 


a  napkin  of  white  linen  upon  the  table  and  anon  they  set 

before  Sir  Gawaine  a  very  bounteous  feast  of  various  meats, 

and  of  manchets  of  white  bread  and  of  divers  wines  both  red  and  white. 

So  Sir  Gawaine  ate  and  drank  and  refreshed  himself,  and  meantime  the 

two  esquires  of  the  lake  served  him  in  all  ways. 

After  that  Sir  Gawaine  laid  him  down  to  sleep,  and  he  slept  very  peace- 
fully and  gently  and  without  any  anxiety  whatsoever.  And  when  the 
morning  had  come  he  bestirred  himself  and  presently  there  came  to  him 
those  two  esquires  and  aided  him  to  arise.  And  they  brought  new  rich 
garments  for  him  to  wear,  and  they  brought  him  food  wherewith  to  refresh 
himself,  and  after  that  they  brought  him  a  suit  of  splendid  armor,  polished 
like  a  mirror  and  inlaid  with  various  singular  devices  in  gold. 

Then  those  esquires  of  the  lake  armed  Sir  Gawaine  and  brought  him 
forth  from  the  pavilion,  and  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  a  noble  and  lordly  war- 
horse  caparisoned  in  all  ways,  and  in  all  ways  fitting  for  a  Knight  Royal 
to  ride  upon.  And  the  esquire  said  to  him:  "  Sir,  this  is  your  horse,  and  it 
hath  been  purveyed  expressly  for  you." 

So  Sir  Gawaine  viewed  the  war-horse  and  saw  how  noble  it  was,  and  he 
mounted  upon  it  with  great  joy  of  possession  and  he  gave  thanks  without 
measure  to  those  two  esquires  who  had  served  him.  After  that  he  rode 
away  from  that  place  with  such  lightness  of  heart  and  with  such  peace 
and  happiness  of  spirit  as  doth  not  often  come  to  any  man  in  this  life. 


328  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

Then  presently  there  came  that  golden  bird  once  more  and  flitted  before 
Sir  Gawaine  as  it  had  aforetime  done,  chirping  very  shrilly  the  while. 
And  Sir  Gawaine  followed  the  bird  once  more  as  aforetime, 
and  it  led  him  as  it  had  before  done  ever  in  a  certain  direction. 
golden  bird  go  ft  brought  him  onward  in  that  wise  until  about  the  middle 
of  the  day,  what  time  he  came  forth  into  an  open  place  of  the 
forest  and  there  beheld  before  him  the  forest  hermitage  several  times 
mentioned  in  these  histories. 

And  Sir  Gawaine  saw  that  a  noble  black  war-horse  stood  beside  that 
forest  sanctuary,  and  he  saw  that  a  great  spear  leaned  against  a  tree  beside 
the  hermitage  and  that  a  shield  hung  from  the  spear.  And  when  Sir 
Gawaine  had  come  close  enough  he  knew  by  the  device  upon  that  shield 
that  it  was  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  who  was  there  at  the  hermitage. 

Now  as  Sir  Gawaine  approached  the  cell  of  the  hermit  of  the  forest,  the 
horse  of  Sir  Bors  neighed  aloud,  and  the  horse  of  Sir  Gawaine  neighed  in 
answer.  Therewith,  as  though  that  neighing  had  been  a  summons,  the 
door  of  the  hut  opened  and  the  hermit  appeared  in  the  doorway,  shading 
his  eyes  with  his  hand  from  the  glare  of  the  sun.  So  when  he  perceived  that 
it  was  Sir  Gawaine  who  approached  that  lonely  place  he  cried  out  aloud: 
"Welcome  Sir  Gawaine!  Welcome  to  this  place!  Sir  Bors  is  here  and 
awaiting  thee.  For  it  hath  been  told  him  in  a  dream  that  thou  wouldst 
meet  him  here  at  this  time  to-day,  and  so  he  is  here  awaiting  thy  coming 
in  fulfillment  of  that  dream." 

So  Sir  Gawaine  dismounted  from  his  horse  and  he  entered  the  cell  of 
the  hermit  and  there  he  beheld  Sir  Bors  kneeling  at  prayer  at  a  little  altar, 
Sir  Gawaine  anc^  ^T  ^awame  stood  and  waited  until  Sir  Bors  had  finished 
meets  Sir  his  orisons.  And  when  Sir  Bors  had  crossed  himself  and  had 

arisen  to  his  feet,  he  turned  with  great  joy  and  took  Sir  Gawaine 
into  his  arms ;  and  either  embraced  the  other  and  either  kissed  the  other 
upon  the  cheek. 

After  that  they  sat  down  and  the  hermit  brought  them  food  and  they  ate 
of  the  simple  fare  of  the  hermit's  cell,  and  meantime  Sir  Gawaine  told  Sir 
Bors  all  that  had  happened  to  him  since  they  had  parted  company.  To 
all  that  was  said  Sir  Bors  listened  with  deep  attention,  for  he  was  much 
astonished  at  that  which  had  befallen  Sir  Gawaine  and  at  the  enchantment 
he  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  Lady  Vivien.  And  indeed  it  was,  of  a 
surety,  a  very  wonderful  adventure,  such  as  any  one  might  well  have  mar- 
velled to  hear  tell  of. 

But  when  Sir  Gawaine  told  Sir  Bors  concerning  the  prophecy  of  Merlin, 
then  Sir  Bors  became  all  enwrapped  as  with  a  certain  exaltation  of  spirit. 


SIR  BORS  AND  SIR  GAWAINE  FOLLOW  THE  GOLDEN  BIRD    329 

Wherefore,  when  Sir  Gawaine  had  finished  that  part  of  his  story,  Sir  Bors 
cried  out:  "How  wonderful  is  this  miracle  that  thou  tellest  me!  Know 
ye  that  certain  things  of  this  sort  have  been  presented  before  me  of  late  in 
several  dreams,  but  lo!  now  they  have  been  manifested  to  thee  in  reality." 
And  he  said:  "Let  us  straightway  arise  and  go  forth  hence,  for  methinks 
that  even  now  we  have  tarried  too  long  in  performing  the  bidding  of  this 
prophecy."  Accordingly  they  arose  and  they  gave  thanks  in  full  measure 
to  that  good  old  hermit  and  they  bade  him  farewell.  Thereafter  they  went 
forth  and  mounted  their  horses  and  took  shield  and  spear  in  hand  and 
departed  thence,  and  after  they  had  so  departed,  straightway  the  golden 
bird  appeared  once  more  and  flew  chirping  before  them. 

Then  Sir  Bors,  beholding  the  bird,  said:  "  Lo!  is  not  yonder  the  bird  that 
has  been  sent  to  lead  us  upon  our  way?"  And  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "Yea; 
that  is  it."  And  then  Sir  Bors  said,  "  Let  us  follow  it  apace." 

So  they  followed  the  bird,  and  ever  it  flew  before  them,  leading  them 
upon   the  way.     Thus  they  travelled  for  a  long  while,  until 
at  last,  toward  the  sloping  of  the  afternoon,  they  became   and  sir  Bors 
aware  that  the  forest  wherein  they  rode  was  becoming  thinner. 
And  anon  they  were  aware  of  the  ringing  of  a  bell  somewhere 
not  a  great  distance  away.     And  the  bird  led  them  toward  where  that 
bell  was  ringing,  and  so  in  a  little  pass  they  came  forth  out  of  the  forest  and 
into  a  very  fertile  valley.     And  there  was  a  smooth  river,  not  very  broad, 
that  flowed  down  through  the  valley,  and  beside  the  river  there  was  a  fair 
priory,  not  large  in  size  but  very  comely,  with  white  walls    Theycometo 
and  red  roofs  and  many  shining  windows,  very  bright  in  the  sun.    the  priory  of 
And  all  about  the  priory  were  fair  fields  and  orchards  and    ' 
gardens,  all  illuminated  very  bright  and  warm,  in  the  full  light  of  the 
slanting  sun  that  was  now  turning  all  the  world  to  gold  by  its  bright, 
yellow  and  very  glorious  shining. 

So  when  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  entered  this  pleasant  plain,  the  golden 
bird  that  had  led  them  thitherward  suddenly  chirped  very  loud  and  shrill, 
and  straightway  flew  high  aloft  into  the  air  and  immediately  disappeared 
over  the  tree  tops.  Thereupon  those  two  champions  knew  with  certainty 
that  this  must  be  the  place  whither  they  were  to  come,  and  they  wist  that 
here  they  should  doubtless  find  that  young  child  of  which  the  prophecy 
of  Merlin  had  spoken.  So  they  went  forward  toward  the  priory  with  a 
certain  awe,  as  not  knowing  what  next  of  mystery  was  to  happen  to 
them.  , 

So  as  they  approached  that  holy  place,  the  gateway  of  the  priory  was 
suddenly  opened,  and  there  came  forth  a  young  knight  of  a  very  noble 


330  THE  NATIVITY   OF  GALAHAD 

and  haughty  appearance,  and  both  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  knew  that 
one,  that  he  was  Sir  Lavaine,  the  brother  of  the  Lady  Elaine,  and  whilom 
They  meet  the  companion  in  arms  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake.  And 
Sir  Lavaine.  as  ^hey  drew  more  near  they  beheld  that  the  face  of  Sir  Lavaine 
was  very  sad  and  that  he  smiled  not  at  all  as  he  gave  them  greeting,  saying: 
"  Ye  are  welcome,  Messires,  and  ye  come  none  too  soon,  for  we  have  been 
waiting  for  you  since  the  morning."  And  he  said,  "Dismount  and  come 
with  me." 

So  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  dismounted  from  their  horses  and  straight- 
way there  came  several  attendants  and  took  the  steeds  and  led  them  away 
to  stable.  Then  Sir  Lavaine  turned,  and  he  beckoned  with  his  hand,  and 
Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  followed  after  as  he  had  commanded  them  to  do. 
So  Sir  Lavaine  brought  them  through  several  passageways  and  from  place 
to  place  until  at  last  he  brought  them  to  a  small  cell  of  the  priory,  very 
cold  and  bare  and  white  as  snow. 

In  the  centre  of  the  cell  there  lay  a  couch  and  upon  the  couch  there 
lay  a  figure  as  still  as  death  and  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  beheld  that 
it  was  the  Lady  Elaine  who  lay  there.  Her  hair  lay  spread  out  all  over 
The  behold  ^e  pillow  of  the  couch,  shining  like  to  pure  gold,  and  in 
the  Lady  the  midst  of  the  hair  her  face  shone  very  white,  like  to  pure 

clear  wax  for  whiteness.  Her  eyes  looked,  as  it  were,  from 
out  of  a  faint  shadow  and  gazed  ever  straight  before  her  and  she  never 
stirred  nor  moved  her  gaze  as  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Lavaine 
entered  her  cell ;  for  it  was  as  though  her  looks  were  fixed  upon  something 
very  strange  that  she  beheld  a  great  distance  away. 

Then  Sir  Lavaine,  speaking  in  a  whisper,  said,  "Come  near  and  behold," 
and  thereupon  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  came  close  to  the  couch  upon 
which  the  Lady  Elaine  lay.  So  when  they  had  come  nigh,  Sir  Lavaine 
They  behold  lifted  the  coverlet  very  softly  and  they  beheld  that  a  new-born 
the  young  babe  lay  beside  the  lady  upon  that  couch.  Then  they  wist 
that  that  babe  was  the  child  of  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake 
and  the  Lady  Elaine ;  and  they  wist  that  this  was  the  babe  of  whom  Merlin 
had  spoken  in  his  prophecy.  For  the  child  was  very  wonderfully  beautiful, 
and  it  was  as  though  a  certain  clear  radiance  of  light  shone  forth  from  its 
face ;  and  it  lay  so  perfectly  still  that  it  was  like  as  though  it  did  not  live. 
So  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  knew  because  of  these  and  several  other 
things  that  this  must  indeed  be  that  very  child  whom  they  had  come  to 
find.  Yea,  it  was  as  though  a  voice  from  a  distance  said:  "Behold!  this 
is  that  one  who  shall  achieve  the  Quest  of  the  Holy  Grail  according  to  the 
prophecy  of  Merlin." 


SIR  BORS   AND   SIR  GAWAINE  FIND    THE  LADY  ELAINE     331 

So  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Gawaine  kneeled  down  beside  the  bed  and  set  their 
palms  together,  and  Sir  Lavaine  stood  near  them,  and  for  a  while  all  was 
very  silent  in  that  place.  Then  suddenly  the  Lady  Elaine  spake  in  that  silence 
in  a  voice  very  faint  and  remote  but  very  clear,  and  as  she  spake  she  turned 
not  her  eyes  toward  any  one  of  them,  but  gazed  ever  straight  before  her. 
And  she  said,  "  Sir  Bors,  art  thou  there? "  and  Sir  Bors  said,  "  Yea,  Lady." 

Then  she  said:  "Behold  this  child  and  look  you  upon  him,  for  this  is 
he  who  shall  achieve  the  Quest  of  the  Holy  Grail  and  shall  bring  it  back 
to  the  earth  again.     So  he  shall  become  the  greatest  knight    The  Lad 
that  ever  the  world  beheld.    But  though  he  shall  be  the  greatest    Elaine  bespeak- 
champion  at  arms  that  ever  lived,  yet  also  he  shall  be  gentle   ' 
and  meek  and  without  sin,  innocent  like  to  a  little  child.     And  because 
he  is  to  be  so  high  in  chivalry  and  so  pure  of  life,  therefore  his  name  shall 
be  called  Galahad."     And  she  said  again,   "Sir  Bors,  art  thou  there?" 
and  he  said,  "Yea,  Lady." 

She  said:  "My  time  draweth  near,  for  even  now  I  behold  the  shining 
gates  of  Paradise,  though  it  yet  is  that  I  behold  them  faintly,  as  through 
a  vapor  of  mist.  Yet  anon  that  mist  shall  pass,  and  I  shall  behold  those 
gates  very  near  by  and  shining  in  glory ;  for  soon  I  shall  quit  this  troubled 
world  for  that  bright  and  beautiful  country.  Nevertheless,  I  shall  leave 
behind  me  this  child  who  lieth  beside  me,  and  his  life  shall  enlighten  that 
world  from  which  I  am  withdrawing."  Then  she  said  for  the  third  time, 
"  Sir  Bors,  art  thou  there? "  And  Sir  Bors  wept,  and  he  said,  "  Yea,  Lady, 
I  am  here." 

Then  the  Lady  Elaine  said:  "Take  thou  this  child  and  bear  him  hence 
unto  a  certain  place  that  thou  shalt  find.  Thou  shalt  know  that  place 
because  there  shall  go  before  thee  a  bird  with  golden  plumage,  and  it  shall 
show  thee  where  thou  art  to  take  this  child.  Leave  the  child  at  that  place 
whither  the  bird  shall  lead  thee,  and  tell  no  man  where  that  place  is.  For 
this  child  must  hide  in  secret  until  the  time  shall  come  when  he  shall  be 
manifested  to  the  world."  And  she  said,  "Hearest  thou  me,  Sir  Bors?" 
And  Sir  Bors,  still  weeping,  said,  "Yea,  Lady." 

Then  she  said:  "Go  and  tarry  not  in  thy  going,  for  the  ending  is  very 
near.  Wait  not  until  that  end  cometh,  but  go  immediately  and  do  as  I 
have  asked  thee  to  do." 

Then,  still  weeping,  Sir  Bors  arose  from  where  he  kneeled,  and  he  took 
the  young  child  and  he  wrapped  it  in  his  cloak  and  he  went    sirBorsde. 
out  thence  and  was  gone,  taking  the  babe  with  him.  parteth  with  the 

And  this  while   Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Lavaine   also  wept,    y°un&chlld- 
and  ever  Sir  Gawaine  still  kneeled  and  Sir  Lavaine  stood  beside  him. 


332  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

Such  is  the  story  of  the  nativity  of  Sir  Galahad,  who  afterward  achieved 
the  Quest  of  the  Holy  Grail  as  was  prophesied  in  the  prophecy  of  Merlin. 

That  same  day  the  Lady  Elaine  died  about  the  middle  watch  of  the 
The  passing  of  night,  departing  from  this  world  in  great  peace  and  good  con- 
Eiaine  the  Fair,  tent,  and  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Lavaine  were  with  her  at  the 
time  of  her  passing. 

Then  Sir  Gawaine  said,  weeping,  "Let  me  go  and  fetch  Sir  Launcelot 
of  the  Lake  hither."  But  Sir  Lavaine,  speaking  very  sternly,  said:  "Let 
be  and  bring  him  not,  for  he  is  not  worthy  to  be  brought  hither.  But  as 
for  you,  do  you  depart,  for  I  have  yet  that  to  do  I  would  do  alone.  So  go  you 
immediately  and  return  unto  the  court  of  the  King.  But  when  you  have 
come  to  the  King's  court,  I  charge  you  to  say  nothing  unto  any  one  concern- 
ing the  birth  of  the  child  Galahad,  nor  of  how  this  sweet,  fair  lady  is  no  more, 
for  I  have  a  certain  thing  to  do  that  I  would  fain  perform  before  those 
things  are  declared.  So  when  you  have  come  to  court  say  nothing  of  these 
matters  of  which  I  have  spoken. ' '  To  the  which  Sir  Gawaine  said,  "  Messire, 
it  shall  be  as  you  desire  in  all  things/' 

sir  Gawaine  ^°  immediately  Sir  Gawaine  went  forth  and  called  for  his 
dcpartethfrom  horse,  and  they  brought  his  horse  to  him  and  he  mounted 
the  priory.  an(^  departed  from  that  place,  leaving  Sir  Lavaine  alone 
with  his  dead. 

And  it  remaineth  here  to  be  said  that  Sir  Gawaine  went  directly  from 
that  place  to  the  court  of  the  King,  and  when  he  had  come  there  he  told 
only  of  those  adventures  that  had  happened  to  him  when  the  Lady  Vivien 
had  bewitched  him.  But  of  those  other  matters:  to  wit,  of  the  nativity  of 
Galahad  and  of  the  death  of  the  Lady  Elaine,  he  said  naught  to  any  one 
but  concealed  those  things  for  the  time  being  in  his  own  heart. 

Yet  ever  he  pondered  those  things  and  meditated  upon  them  in  the 
silent  watches  of  the  night.  For  the  thought  of  those  things  filled  him  at 
once  with  joy  and  with  a  sort  of  terror;  with  hope  and  with  a  manner  of 
despair;  wherefore  his  spirit  was  troubled  because  of  those  things  which 
he  had  beheld,  for  he  knew  not  what  their  portent  might  be. 


Ijc  Barge  of  flje  Deab 


Conclusion 

NOW  after  Sir  Bors  had  departed  and  after  Sir  Gawaine  had  de- 
parted as  aforesaid — the  one  at   the  one  time  and  the  other 
at  the  other — there  came  several  of  those  of  the  priory  to  that 
cell  of  death.     And  they  lifted  up  that  still  and  peaceful  figure  and  bare 
it  away  to  the  chapel  of  the  priory.     And  they  laid  it  upon  a  bier  in  the 
chapel  and  lit  candles  around  about  the  bier,  and  they  chanted  all  night 
in  the  chapel  a  requiem  to  the  repose  of  the  gentle  soul  that  was  gone. 
And  when  the  morning  light  had  dawned  Sir  Lavaine  came  to  that  chapel 
when  the  candles  were  still  alight  in  the  dull  gray  of  the  early  day  and 
he  kneeled  for  a  long  time  in  prayer  beside  the  bier. 

Thereafter  and  when  he  had  ended  his  prayers,  he  arose  and  departed 
from  that  place,  and  he  went  to  the  people  of  the  priory,  and  he  said  to 
them,  "  Whither  is  it  that  this  river  floweth? "  They  say:  "  It  floweth  down 
from  this  place  past  the  King's  town  of  Camelot,  and  thence  it  floweth 
onward  until  it  floweth  into  the  sea  to  the  southward." 

Sir  Lavaine  said,  "  Is  there  ere  a  boat  at  this  place  that  may  float  upon 
the  river?"  And  they  say  to  him:  "Yea,  Messire,  there  is  sir 
a  barge  and  there  is  a  man  that  saileth  that  barge  and  that 
man  is  deaf  and  dumb  from  birth."  At  that  Sir  Lavaine  said:  "  I  pray  you 
to  bring  me  to  where  that  deaf  and  dumb  bargeman  is." 

So  one  of  those  to  whom  he  spake  took  him  to  a  certain  place  where  was 
that  barge,  and  the  deaf  and  dumb  bargeman.  And  the  bargeman  was 
a  very  old  man  with  a  long  beard  as  white  as  snow  and  he  gazed  very  stead- 
fastly upon  Sir  Lavaine  as  he  drew  near  thitherward.  So  Sir  Lavaine 
came  close  to  the  bargeman  and  he  made  signs  to  him,  asking  him  if  he 
would  ferry  him  down  the  stream  to  the  King's  town,  and  the  dumb  barge- 
man understood  what  Sir  Lavaine  would  have  and  he  made  signs  in  answer 
that  it  should  be  as  Sir  Lavaine  desired. 

After  that  Sir  Lavaine  gave  command  that  the  barge  should  be  hung 
and  draped  all  with  white  samite  embroidered  with  silver  and  he  gave 
command  that  a  couch  of  white  samite  should  be  established  upon  the 


336  THE  NATIVITY  OF  GALAHAD 

barge,  and  the  covering  of  the  couch  was  also  embroidered  with  silver. 
So  when  all  was  in  readiness  there  came  forth  a  procession 
fr°m  tne  chapel,  bearing  that  still  and  silent  figure,  and  they 
ladydeparteth  brought  it  to  the  barge  and  laid  it  upon  the  couch  of  white 
samite  that  had  been  prepared  for  it.  Thereafter  Sir  Lavaine 
entered  the  barge  and  took  his  station  in  the  bow  of  the  boat  and  the  deaf 
and  dumb  man  took  his  station  in  the  stern  thereof. 

Then  the  bargeman  trimmed  the  sail  and  so  the  barge  drew  slowly  away 
from  that  place,  many  standing  upon  the  landing-stage  and  watching  its 
departure. 

And  after  that  the  barge  floated  gently  down  the  smooth  stream  or  the 
river,  and  ever  the  deaf  and  dumb  man  guided  it  upon  its  way.  And  anon 
So  they  descend  they  floated  down  betwixt  banks  of  rushes,  with  here  and 
the  flood.  there  a  row  of  pollard  willow-trees  and  thickets  of  alder.  And 

all  about  them  was  the  pleasant  weather  of  the  summertime,  with  every- 
thing abloom  with  grace  and  beauty. 

Then  anon,  departing  from  those  marshy  stretches  with  their  rushes 
and  their  willows  and  their  alders,  they  drifted  past  some  open  meadow- 
lands,  with  fields  and  uplands  all  trembling  in  the  still  hot  sunlight.  And 
after  that  they  came  to  a  more  populous  country  where  were  several  small 
towns  and  villages  with  here  and  there  a  stone  bridge  crossing  the  river. 
And  at  those  places  of  habitation  many  came  and  stood  upon  a  bridge 
beneath  which  they  passed,  and  others  stood  upon  the  smooth  and  grassy 
banks  of  the  stream  and  gazed  in  awe  at  that  wonderful  barge  as  it  drifted 
by  adown  the  flood.  And  they  who  thus  gazed  would  whisper  and  marvel 
at  what  they  beheld  and  would  cross  themselves  for  awe  and  terror. 

So  ever  they  floated  onward  until  at  last  they  came  to  within  sight  of 
the  town  of  Camelot. 

After  that,  in  a  little  they  came  to  the  town  and  as  they  passed  by  the 
town  walls,  lo !  a  great  multitude  of  people  came  and  stood  upon  the  walls 
and  gazed  down  upon  that  white  bedraped  barge  and  those  who  were 
within.  And  all  the  people  whispered  to  one  another  in  awe,  saying: 
"What  is  this  and  what  doth  it  portend?  Is  this  real  or  is  it  a  vision 
that  we  behold?" 

But  ever  that  barge  drifted  onward  past  the  walls  and  past  those  who 
So  they  come  stood  thereon,  and  so,  at  last,  it  came  to  a  landing-place  of 
to  Camelot.  stone  steps  not  f ar  distant  from  the  castle  of  the  King.  There 
the  dumb  bargeman  made  fast  the  barge  to  the  iron  rings  of  the  landing- 
stage,  and  so  that  strange  voyage  was  ended. 

Now  at  that  time  King  Arthur  and  many  of  the  lords  and  some  of  the 


HOW    THE  BARGE  CAME   TO   CAMELOT  337 

ladies  of  his  court  sat  at  feast  in  the  royal  hall  of  the  castle,  and  amongst 
those  was  Sir  Launcelot  and  Queen  Guinevere.  So  as  they  sat  thus,  there 
came  one  of  a  sudden  running  into  the  hall  as  in  affright,  and  thereat  all 
looked  upon  him  and  wondered  wherefore  he  came  into  the  hall  in  that 
way.  Then  King  Arthur  said,  "What  ails  thee  that  thou  comest  hither 
to  us  thus?" 

Then  he  who  came  kneeled  before  King  Arthur,  and  he  said:  "Lord, 
here  is  a  wonderful  thing.  For  down  by  the  river  there  hath  come  a  barge 
to  the  landing-stairs  of  the  castle,  and  that  barge  is  hung  all  with  white 
samite  embroidered  with  silver.  And  in  the  barge  and  upon  a  couch  of 
white  samite  there  lieth  a  dead  lady  so  beautiful  that  I  do  not  think  her 
like  is  to  be  found  in  all  of  the  earth.  And  a  dumb  man  sits  ~. 

JLtng  Arthur 

in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  a  noble  young  knight  sits  in  the  heareth  news  of 
bow  of  the  boat  with  his  face  shrouded  in  his  mantle  as  thebar£e- 
though  for  grief.  And  that  knight  sits  there  as  silent  and  as  motionless 
as  the  dead  lady,  and  the  dumb  man  sits  there  also,  like  to  an  image  of  a 
man  rather  than  a  man  of  flesh  and  blood.  Wherefore  it  is  that  I  have 
come  hither  to  bring  you  word  of  this  wonderful  thing." 

Then  King  Arthur  said:  "  This  is  indeed  a  most  singular  story  that  thou 
tellest  us.  Now  let  us  all  straightway  go  and  see  what  this  portendeth." 

So  the  King  arose  from  where  he  sat,  and  he  descended  therefrom,  and 
he  went  forth  out  of  the  hall,  and  all  who  were  there  went  with  him. 

Now  first  of  all  there  went  King  Arthur,  and  among  those  who  were  last 
there  went  Sir  Launcelot  of  the  Lake.     For  when  he  had  heard  of  that 
dead  lady  he  bethought  him  of  the  Lady  Elaine  and  of  how 
she  was  even  then  in  tender  health,  wherefore  he  repented  him  ' 


with  great  bitterness  of  heart  that  he  was  not  with  her  at  that 

time  instead  of  lingering  at  court  as  he  did.     And  he  said  to 

himself:  "  Suppose  that  she  should  die  like  to  this  dead  lady  in  the  barge  — 

what  would  I  do  if  that  should  have  happened  unto  me?"     So  it  was  that 

his  feet  lagged  because  of  his  heavy  thoughts,  and  so  it  was  that  he  was 

near  the  last  who  came  to  the  riverside  where  was  that  barge  as  afore- 

said. 

Now,  there  were  many  of  the  towns  folk  standing  there,  but  upon  King 
Arthur's  coming  all  those  made  way  for  him,  and  so  he  came  and  stood 
upon  the  upper  step  of  the  landing-stairs  and  looked  down  into  the  boat. 
And  he  beheld  that  figure  that  was  lying  there  and  knew  it  that  it  was  the 
Lady  Elaine  who  lay  there  dead. 

Then  the  King  looked  for  a  little  upon  that  dead  figure  as  it  were  in  a 
sort  of  terror,  and  then  he  said,  "  Where  is  Sir  Launcelot?" 


338  THE  NATIVITY   OF  GALAHAD 

Now  when  the  King  so  spake,  they  who  stood  there  made  way,  and  Sir 
Sir  Launceiot  Launcelot  came  through  the  press  and  stood  also  at  the  head 
lehoideththe  of  the  stairs  and  looked  down  into  the  barge.  Then  of  a 
sudden— as  it  were  in  an  instant  of  time — he  beheld  with  his 
very  eyes  that  thing  which  he  had  been  thinking  of  anon ;  for  there  before 
him  and  beneath  him  lay  in  very  truth  the  dead  image  of  that  dear  lady 
of  whom  he  had  been  thinking  only  a  moment  before. 

Then  it  was  as  though  Sir  Launcelot  had  suddenly  been  struck  with  a 
shaft  of  death,  for  he  neither  moved  nor  stirred.  Nay,  it  was  not  to  be 
perceived  that  he  even  so  much  as  breathed.  But  ever  he  stood  there 
gazing  down  into  that  boat  as  though  he  had  forgotten  for  that  while  that 
there  was  anybody  else  in  all  of  the  world  saving  only  himself  and  that  dead 
lady.  And  many  of  those  who  were  there  looked  upon  the  face  of  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  they  beheld  that  his  countenance  was  altogether  as  white 
as  the  face  of  that  dead  figure  who  lay  in  the  barge  beneath  them. 

Then  a  great  hush  of  silence  fell  over  all  and  every  voice  was  stilled, 
and  at  that  hush  of  silence  Sir  Lavaine  lifted  the  hood  from  his  face  and 
looked  up  from  where  he  sat  in  the  boat  at  the  feet  of  the  dead  lady,  and 
Sir  Lavaine  so  ^ene^  Sir  Launcelot  where  he  stood.  Then  upon  the 
accuseth  sir  instant  Sir  Lavaine  stood  up  in  the  barge  and  he  cried  out  in 
a  great  loud  harsh  voice :  "  Hah !  art  thou  there,  thou  traitor 
knight?  Behold  the  work  that  thou  hast  done ;  for  this  that  thou  beholdest 
is  thy  handiwork.  Thou  hast  betrayed  this  lady's  love  for  the  love  of 
another,  and  so  thou  hast  brought  her  to  her  death!" 

So  said  Sir  Lavaine  before  all  those  who  were  there,  but  it  was  as  though 
Sir  Launcelot  heard  him  not,  for  ever  he  stood  as  though  he  were  a  dead 
man  and  not  a  living  man  of  flesh  and  blood.  Then  of  a  sudden  he  awoke, 
as  it  were,  to  life,  and  he  clasped  the  back  of  his  hands  across  his  eyes,  and 
cried  out  in  a  voice  as  though  that  voice  tore  his  heart  asunder,  "  Remorse ! 
Remorse!  Remorse!"  saying  those  words  three  times  over  in  that  wise. 

Then  he  shut  his  lips  tight  as  though  to  say  no  more,  and  thereupon 
turned  and  went  away  from  that  place. 

And  he  turned  neither  to  this  side  nor  to  that,  but  went  straight  to  the 
castle  of  the  King,  and  there  ordered  that  his  horse  should  be  brought 
Sir  Launcelot  forth  to  him  upon  the  instant.  So  when  his  horse  was  brought 
departeth.  fe  mounted  it  and  rode  away;  and  he  bade  farewell  to  no 
one,  and  no  one  was  there  when  he  thus  departed. 

So  for  a  long  while  Sir  Launcelot  rode  he  knew  not  whither,  but  after 
a  while  he  found  himself  in  the  forest  not  far  away  from  the  cell  of  the 
hermit  of  the  forest.  And  he  beheld  the  hermit  of  the  forest,  that  he 


SIR   LAUNCELOT  DEPARTS  FROM    THE   COURT  339 

stood  in  an  open  plat  of  grass  in  front  of  his  cell  and  that  he  was  feeding 
the  wild  birds  of  the  woodland ;  for  the  little  feathered  creatures  were 
gathered  in  great  multitudes  about  him,  some  resting  upon  his  head  and 
some  upon  his  shoulders  and  some  upon  his  hands.  And  a  wild  doe  and  a 
fawn  of  the  forest  browsed  near  by  and  all  was  full  of  peace  and  good 
content. 

But  at  the  coming  of  Sir  Launcelot,  all  those  wild  creatures  took  alarm ; 
the  birds  they  flew  chirping  away,  and  the  doe  and  the  fawn  they  fled 
away  into  the  thickets  of  the  forest.  For  they  wist,  by  some  instinct,  that 
a  man  of  sin  and  sorrow  was  coming  thitherward;  wherefore  they  were 
afeared  and  fled  away  in  that  wise. 

But  Sir  Launcelot  thought  nothing  of  this,  but  leaped  from  his  horse, 
and  ran  to  the  hermit  and  flung  himself  down  upon  the  ground  before  him 
and  embraced  him  about  the  feet.  And  the  hermit  was  greatly  astonished 
and  said,  "  What  ails  thee,  Sir  Launcelot? "  Whereunto  Sir  Launcelot  cried 
out:  "Woe  is  me!  Woe  is  me!  I  have  sinned  very  grievously  and  have 
been  grievously  punished  and  now  my  heart  is  broken!" 

Then  the  hermit  perceived  that  some  great  misfortune  had  befallen  Sir 
Launcelot,  wherefore  he  lifted  Sir  Launcelot  to  his  feet  and  after  that  he 
brought  him  into  his  cell.  And  after  they  were  in  the  cell  together,  he  said : 
"  Now  tell  me  what  ails  thee,  Sir  Launcelot.  For  I  believe  that  in  telling 
me  thou  shalt  find  a  great  deal  of  ease." 

So  Sir  Launcelot  confessed  everything  to  the  hermit — yea,  everything 
to  the  very  bottom  of  his  soul,  and  the  good,  holy  man  hearkened  to  him. 

Then  after  Sir  Launcelot  had  said  all  that  lay  upon  his  heart,  the  hermit 
sat  for  a  while  in  silence,  communing  with  his  spirit.  And  after  a  while  he 
said :  "  Messire,  God  telleth  me  that  if  thy  sin  hath  been  grievous,  so  also 
hath  thy  punishment  been  full  sore.  Wherefore  meseemeth  I  speak  what 
God  would  have  me  say  when  I  tell  thee  that  though  neither  thou  nor  any 
man  may  undo  that  which  is  done,  nor  recommit  that  which  is  committed, 
yet  there  is  this  which  thou  or  any  man  mayest  do.  Thou  mayst  bathe  thy 
soul  in  repentance  as  in  a  bath  of  clear  water  (for  repentance  is  not  remorse 
but  something  very  different  from  remorse),  and  that  having  so  bathed 
thyself  thou  mayst  clothe  thyself  as  in  a  fresh  raiment  of  new  resolve.  So 
bathed  and  so  clad,  thou  mayst  stand  once  more  upon  thy  feet  and  mayst 
look  up  to  God  and  say:  'Lo,  God!  I  am  Thy  handiwork.  I  have  sinned 
and  have  done  great  evil,  yet  I  am  still  Thy  handiwork,  who  hath  made  me 
what  I  am.  So,  though  I  may  not  undo  that  which  I  have  done,  yet  I  may, 
with  Thy  aid,  do  better  hereafter  than  I  have  done  heretofore/ 

"  For  every  man  may  sin,  and  yet  again  may  sin ;  yet  still  is  he  God's 


340  THE  NATIVITY   OF  GALAHAD 

handiwork,  and  still  God  is  near  by  His  handiwork  to  aid  him  ever  to  a  fresh 
endeavor  to  righteousness. 

"So,  though  thou  hast  sinned,  thou  art  still  the  creation  of  God  and  may 
yet  do  His  will  in  the  world  who  hath  sent  thee  hither." 

Then  Sir  Launcelot  wept,  and  he  said,  "  There  is  much  comfort  in  thy 
words." 

After  that  he  abode  for  three  days  in  the  cell  of  the  hermit  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  he  went  forth  again  into  the  world,  a  broken  yet  a  con- 
trite man,  and  one  full  of  a  strong  resolve  to  make  good  the  life  that  God 
thenceforth  intended  him  to  live. 

So  by  and  by  you  shall  hear  of  further  adventures  that  befell  him;  yet 
not  at  this  place. 

So  it  was  with  Sir  Launcelot,  and  now  it  only  remaineth  to  be  said  that, 
after  his  departure  from  the  King's  court  as  aforesaid,  they  brought  the 
dead  figure  of  the  Lady  Elaine  to  the  minster  at  Camelot  and  there  high 
mass  was  said  for  the  peace  of  her  pure  and  gentle  soul.  So  for  two  days 
(what  time  Sir  Launcelot  was  bathing  himself  in  the  waters  of  repentance 
as  aforetold)  that  figure  lay  in  state  in  the  minster  and  with  many  candles 
burning  about  it,  and  then  it  was  buried  in  the  minster  and  a  monument 
of  marble  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  that  kind  and  loving  spirit  that 
had  gone. 

So  endeth  the  history  of  the  Nativity  of  Galahad  and  so  therewith  this 
book  also  cometh  to  an  end. 

Yet  after  a  while,  if  God  giveth  me  life  to  finish  that  work  which  I  have 
undertaken  in  writing  these  histories  (and  I  pray  He  may  give  me  to  finish 
that  and  several  other  things),  then  I  shall  tell  you  many  things  more  than 
these.  For  I  shall  tell  you  how  Sir  Launcelot  came  back  again  into  the 
world,  and  I  shall  tell  you  of  the  history  of  the  Quest  of  the  Grail,  and  I 
shall  tell  you  of  other  knights  who  came  in  later  days  to  make  the  court 
of  King  Arthur  even  more  glorious  than  it  was  before. 

Already  two  histories  have  been  written  concerning  these  things  and  this 
makes  the  third,  and  another,  I  believe,  will  complete  that  work  which  I 
have  assigned  myself  to  do ;  wherefore,  as  was  said,  I  pray  that  God  may 
grant  that  I  shall  be  able  to  finish  that  fourth  book  and  so  end  my  work 
that  I  have  here  undertaken.  Amen. 

THE    END 


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